WALES

Departmental Pay

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was paid to officials in her Department in (a) bonuses, (b) allowances and (c) other payments additional to basic salary in each of the last two years for which figures are available; what categories of payment may be made to officials in addition to basic salary; what the monetary value is of each category of payment; and what the monetary value was of the 20 largest such payments made in each of the last two years.

Cheryl Gillan: The following amounts have been paid to staff of the Wales Office in addition to their basic salaries over the last two financial years:
	
		
			 £ 
			  2009-10 2010-11 
			 Bonus 17,386.94 16,700 
			 Misc. allowances 183,450.45 106,973.03 
			 Annual leave sacrifice 1,482.87 871.84 
			 Overtime 43,360.19 9,245.41 
		
	
	The Wales Office is not an employer in its own right and therefore has to fulfil the terms and conditions of its staff depending on their home departments, including entitlements to particular allowances.
	Similarly the payment of performance related bonuses—all of which are non-consolidated—is not a decision for the Wales Office. Those staff who delivered outstanding performances were entitled to a bonus payment by virtue of the terms and conditions of their home Department.
	The vast majority of expenditure falls under misc. allowances, which includes the costs of staff who relocate as part of their role and those temporarily working at a higher grade who are then eligible for additions to their basic salary. In roles that require regular working of additional hours, an allowance is paid in lieu of overtime.
	The use of overtime is only utilised in exceptional circumstances and now requires approval by a member of the senior civil service.
	The value of some allowances are linked to the basic salaries of staff and therefore vary in each individual case.
	The monetary value of the 20 largest payments made each year is as follows:
	2009-10
	£8,000.00
	£7,306.20
	£2,700.00
	£2,696.40
	£2,666.27
	£2,630.85
	£2,575.59
	£2,551.39
	£2,544.01
	£2,503.81
	£2,480.85
	£2,380.85
	£2,338.63
	£2,241.94
	£2,051.81
	£2,036.87
	£1,995.79
	£1,912.35
	£1,889.03
	£1,867.23
	2010-11
	£7,500.00
	£3,000.01
	£2,680.85
	£1,641.80
	£1,578.20
	£1,559.99
	£1,531.34
	£1,530.51
	£1,409.99
	£1,359.99
	£1,359.99
	£1,351.36
	£1,217.94
	£1,200.00
	£1,200.00
	£1,200.00
	£1,200.00
	£1,200.00
	£1,200.00
	£1,200.00

Departmental Public Expenditure

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps she is taking to reduce administrative costs in her Department in 2012; and by how much she expects such costs to reduce.

Cheryl Gillan: In 2011 the Wales Office established a Change and Efficiency Committee to monitor more closely the efficiencies being achieved by the Department. A formal Efficiency Plan is being drawn up.
	There are also a number of shared service initiatives being pursued with other Territorial offices to streamline back office functions across the three Offices.
	The Department's published CSR budget incorporates the efficiency targets required by Treasury and we fully expect to come within that budget. Indeed, the department has already achieved a number of significant efficiency savings. For example, banning the purchase of first class tickets from May 2010 has reduced the cost of the average trip by two thirds. In addition a new government contract for hotel bookings has saved the Department over £12,000.

Fire Services: Pensions

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether her Department is responsible for the pensions of firefighters in Wales; and if she will make a statement.

David Jones: The responsibility for the pensions of firefighters in Wales falls to the Department for Communities and Local Government working alongside the Welsh Government.
	The administration and payment of individual pensions and benefits is the responsibility of the fire and rescue authorities.

Rescue Services

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations she has received on the adequacy of helicopter search and rescue services covering South Wales.

David Jones: The Wales Office has received no recent representations about the adequacy of helicopter search and rescue services covering South Wales.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Work Experience

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidelines his Department issues to its non-departmental public bodies on the employment of unpaid interns.

Hugo Swire: My Department does not issue guidance on the employment of unpaid interns to its NDPBs. The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, which is responsible for developing and implementing its own human resources policies, offers some internships on an expenses only basis.

Firearms

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many people have had a firearms certificate revoked (a) for reasons of national security and (b) because they were deemed unfit to hold a firearm in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many people have had their right to carry a personal protection weapon revoked in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many people have had an application for a personal protection weapon refused in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Hugo Swire: The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is the firearms licensing authority for Northern Ireland, responsible for the issuing of firearms certificates to those wishing to possess firearms, including those wishing to possess a firearm for personal protection purposes. As such these are matters for the Chief Constable of the PSNI.

Firearms

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have lodged an appeal against a decision to revoke their right to carry a personal protection weapon in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and how many such appeals have been successful.

Hugo Swire: The following table indicates the number of appeals made to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by holders of firearms certificates permitting them to carry a personal protection weapon revoked by the Chief Constable.
	
		
			  Number of appeals Number of successful appeals 
			 2007 0 0 
			 2008 2 0 
			 2009 1 0 
			 2010 1 0 
			 2011 3 0

Firearms

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have lodged an appeal against a decision to refuse their application for a personal protection weapon in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and how many such appeals have been successful.

Hugo Swire: The following table indicates the number of appeals made since 2007 to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland against the Chief Constable's refusal to grant a firearms certificate allowing possession of a personal protection weapon.
	
		
			  Number of appeals Number of successful appeals 
			 2007 8 2 
			 2008 19 3 
			 2009 101 57 
			 2010 38 0 
			 2011 46 0

Firearms

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people who have convictions for scheduled offences have been granted a firearms certificate in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Hugo Swire: The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is the firearms licensing authority for Northern Ireland, responsible for the issuing of firearms certificates to those wishing to possess firearms. As such these are matters for the Chief Constable of the PSNI.

PRIME MINISTER

Aidan Burley

Ian Austin: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the letter of 21 December from his private political secretary regarding the behaviour of the hon. Member for Cannock Chase, when he expects the investigation to report to him; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the investigation.

David Cameron: This is a matter for the Conservative party.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing: Rural Areas

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether it is his policy to encourage landowners to make land available for affordable housing in rural areas.

Andrew Stunell: The coalition Government have established in the Localism Act and the draft National Planning Policy Framework that local authorities, engaging with their local communities, are best placed to address the need for all types of housing, including affordable housing, in their areas. In that spirit, some authorities are encouraging landowners to make land available for affordable housing by offering them the right to nominate tenants to some of the homes.
	We anticipate that the Community Right to Build will provide communities with the opportunity to secure the development they want, and we expect that they will engage with local landowners to secure the land to support this development. In November 2011 I also set out further opportunities in line with the Home on the Farm scheme, for local authorities to work with farmers to ensure that disused or underused farm buildings are converted for affordable housing.

Commission for Local Administration in England

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in which 20 parliamentary constituencies the most complaints were made to the Local Government Ombudsman in 2011.

Bob Neill: This information is not available. The Local Government Ombudsman's data are about complaints relating to local authorities, the following table showing the 20 councils with the highest number of complaints in 2011.
	
		
			 Local authority Number of complaints in 2011 
			 Birmingham City Council 257 
			 Southwark London Borough 198 
			 Lambeth London Borough 186 
			 Leeds City Council 176 
			 Cornwall Council 148 
			 Kent County Council 143 
			 Haringey London Borough 135 
			 Camden London Borough 133 
			 Croydon London Borough 121 
			 Hackney London Borough 119 
		
	
	
		
			 Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough 115 
			 Sheffield City Council 114 
			 Islington London Borough 113 
			 Ealing London Borough 113 
			 Bristol City Council 108 
			 Essex County Council 102 
			 Newham London Borough 98 
			 Surrey County Council 96 
			 Staffordshire County Council 95 
			 Brighton and Hove City Council 92 
		
	
	These figures, in part, will reflect the larger resident populations in the local authority area; for example, the population of Birmingham is four times the size of Brighton and Hove.

Council Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much public funding has been allocated to (a) write off council housing debt and (b) provide gap funding for councils pursuing stock transfer in 2011-12; and how much is proposed for a new stock transfer programme in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14.

Andrew Stunell: Overhanging debt payments are within annually managed expenditure. In 2011-12 voted provision was £658 million, which has been adjusted as the year unfolds. The Department has yet to make any payments to the Public Works Loans Board in respect of completed housing stock transfers this financial year. It expects to make payments of up to £370 million for transfers due to complete by 31 March 2012. Figures for 2012-13 and 2013-14 are not available.
	The Gap Funding programme is managed by the Homes and Communities Agency who allocate funding directly to housing associations. The agency has allocated £175 million for 2011-12, £161 million in 2012-13 and £121 million in 2013-14 in gap funding.

Council Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the difference was between total rents paid by council tenants and the amount paid to councils in allowances for maintenance and major repairs of tenants’ homes in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12 to date.

Andrew Stunell: The data are given in the following table.
	
		
			 £ 
			  Allowances for management and maintenance (1) Allowance for major repairs Guideline rental income Rental income less management, maintenance and major repairs 
			 2009-10 3,234,501,328 1,250,408,574 6,018,638,074 1,533,728,172 
			 2010-11 3,271,802,304 1,251,166,862 6,086,688,786 1,563,719,620 
			 2011-12 3,269,422,797 1,247,117,455 6,296,923,063 1,780,382,811 
			 (1) Management and maintenance costs are not disaggregated. 
		
	
	Rental income also contributes to the revenue costs of arm’s length management organisations, private finance initiative schemes and capital charges together with a number of other, relatively minor, items. Collectively, these additional elements, which are not included in the table above, amounted to additional expenditure of £1.421 billion, £1.041 billion and £1,109 billion in each year respectively.
	The existing housing revenue account subsidy system ends on 31 March 2012, with the introduction of the new self-financing regime introduced by the Localism Act 2011.

Council Tax Benefits

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether local authorities will be required to apply benefit tapers defined by his Department in operating council tax benefit schemes under provisions of the Local Government Finance Bill.

Bob Neill: The Government intend that the general principles of supporting work incentives will be set out in guidance which will help local authorities to design support. The Government will also consider what technical details around work incentives will help local authorities to consider interactions with universal credit and whether work incentives have been adequately supported. The Department will explore this in its work on the delivery of local schemes with local government representative organisations.

Departmental Apprentices

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding his Department allocated to sponsor apprenticeships in his Department in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and how much such funding he plans to allocate in 2012-13.

Bob Neill: No funding has been allocated by the Department for Communities and Local Government to sponsor apprenticeships from April 2010 and there are no current plans to sponsor any apprenticeships between January 2012 and March 2013.
	The Department’s staffing restructure is timetabled to October 2012. Until we have either redeployed staff that have been selected to leave the Department or they have exited by October 2012, there are no vacant roles against which we could deploy apprentices.

Departmental Apprentices

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many apprentices were employed by his Department between (a) April 2010 and March 2011 and (b) April and December 2011; and how many apprenticeships he plans that his Department will sponsor between (i) January and March 2012 and (ii) April and March 2013.

Bob Neill: The data collected by Government Skills shows that the Department for Communities and Local Government did not start any apprenticeships during the year April 2010 to March 2011 and has not started any in the current financial year. My Department has no current plans to sponsor any apprenticeships between January 2012 and March 2013.
	The Department’s staffing restructure is timetabled to October 2012. Until we have either redeployed staff that have been selected to leave the Department or they have exited by October 2012, there are no vacant roles against which we could deploy apprentices.

Departmental Publications

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) leaflets, (b) posters and (c) reports his Department has published since May 2010; how much each cost; and which company (i) published and (ii) designed each.

Bob Neill: Since May 2010, the Department has published 1,059 leaflets, posters and reports. Of these, around 80% were produced at zero cost to the Department.
	Through the operation of the Government marketing controls, the Department has reduced the total number and unit cost of its publications compared with previous years. My Department is taking further steps to reduce the amount of hard copy printing of reports.
	The remaining publications incurred the following costs:
	(a) Leaflets
	Cost: £11,215.20
	Designers and printers: Tempo and Tudorseed
	(b) Posters (related to the Fire Kills campaign)
	Total cost (design and print): £1,926
	Designers and printers: Tempo
	(c) Reports
	Total cost (design and print): £223,605.66
	Designers and printers: The Stationary Office (TSO), Celeritas, Graphics Matter, Gray Publishing, GWS, RIBA, Tempo and Tudorseed.
	To place this in context, the equivalent spend in the 18 months prior to May 2010 has been roughly estimated by my Department to be in the region of £1.9 million.

Government Procurement Card

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth, of 3 November 2011, Official Report, column 782W, on the Government Procurement Card, if he will give the name of the Minister or permanent secretary in respect of whom each transaction listed in the answer was made.

Bob Neill: The following transactions were made under the heading of 'restaurants and bars' and 'leisure activities' using cards held by the Permanent Secretary's Private Office in 2007-08:
	
		
			 Transaction date Cardholder name Merchant Town Spend category Transaction amount (£) 
			 28 June 2007 Private Office Deliverance Limited London W12 Restaurants and bars 17.90 
			 28 June 2007 Private Office Deliverance Limited London Wl2 Restaurants and bars 10.45 
			 28 June 2007 Private Office Deliverance Limited London Wl2 Restaurants and bars 145.85 
		
	
	There were no transactions under the heading of 'restaurant and bars' and 'leisure activities' using cards held by the Permanent Secretary's Private Office in 2006-07.
	Other records are not held in the names of individual Ministers. It would involve disproportionate cost to provide the information in this form.

Local Government Finance: Housing

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding each local authority in England has forgone as a result of the top-slicing of the 2012-13 Formula Grant to part fund the most recent new homes bonus allocations.

Bob Neill: £176 million has been top-sliced from the 2012-13 Formula Grant to part fund the 2012-13 New Homes Bonus allocations. This was deducted from the total amount of grant set in the spending review before the allocation for individual local authorities was calculated. The Department has not attempted to calculate how the £176 million would have been distributed within formula grant if the top-slice had not occurred. We have allocated almost £1 billion of additional funding to support the New Homes Bonus over the spending review period, including £250 million set aside for 2012-13.

Members: Correspondence

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects the Minister of State for Housing to respond to the letters of 24 October and 29 November 2011 from the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed regarding a right to build scheme in his constituency.

Grant Shapps: The letters were answered on 10 January 2012.

Members: Correspondence

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will ensure that the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government replies to the letter of 20 December 2011 from the hon. Member for Hartlepool on whether a call-in decision is required for the planning application as a matter of urgency.

Bob Neill: A reply to the hon. Member for Hartlepool was dispatched on 11 January 2012.

Social Rented Housing: Repairs and Maintenance

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what steps his Department has taken to ensure that local authority housing departments repair properties following accidents and emergencies in a timely manner;
	(2)  what powers his Department has to ensure local authorities improve efficiency in making necessary repairs to homes of vulnerable tenants.

Andrew Stunell: The Social Housing Regulator's Home Standard requires registered providers to provide a cost-effective repairs and maintenance service to homes and communal areas that responds to the needs of, and offers choices to, tenants, and has the objective of completing repairs and improvements right first time. It also requires registered providers to ensure a prudent, planned approach to repairs and maintenance of homes and communal areas which should balance planned and responsive repairs, and value for money.
	The regulator has a range of enforcement powers it can use if a registered provider is failing to meet the requirements of this standard. The social housing regulator is currently consulting on a new set of standards. This includes a revision to the tenant involvement standard to require landlords to give tenants opportunities to play a bigger role in the maintenance of their homes.
	Certain small, urgent repairs which, if not made, are likely to affect the health, safety and security of local authority tenants and their households have to be carried out in legislatively prescribed timescales under the Secure Tenants of Local Housing Authorities (Right to Repair) Regulations 1994 (SI 1994/133).

Sustainable Communities Act 2007

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether regulations to be laid before Parliament under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 will include a duty on local authorities to try to reach agreement with communities when deciding on proposals to be submitted under the Act;
	(2)  whether regulations to be laid before Parliament under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 will limit how long the Secretary of State has to deal with proposals submitted by communities and councils;
	(3)  when he plans to lay before Parliament regulations under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007.

Greg Clark: The Government are considering the scope of regulations under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 following the consultation exercise conducted last year. We expect to make the regulations shortly.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to announce the Government’s new policy on Gypsy and Traveller planning following the Planning for Travellers Sites consultation.

Bob Neill: We are considering the responses to the consultation on our draft planning policy for Traveller sites and will publish the new policy as soon as possible. Decision makers are entitled to have regard to the fact that it is proposed to withdraw the circulars and replace them with the Government’s draft new policy.

Water: Conservation

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals to create a statutory requirement that all commercial and domestic new-builds should be required to harvest roof water for non-potable usage.

Andrew Stunell: To reduce the use of wholesome water, the 2010 changes to the building regulations introduced for the first time requirements for a calculated whole building performance standard for water use in new homes, currently set at 125 litres/person/day.
	As the regulations are a functional approach, they allow the appropriate use of non-wholesome water for flushing of WCs and other non-potable uses, such as irrigation, and the approved documents that provide statutory guidance in support of the building regulations give additional advice on the use of rainwater harvesting and water from baths, basins and showers (referred to as "greywater") for non-potable uses.
	This approach reflects a policy in which water efficiency measures should always be considered before rainwater harvesting or greywater systems, which, if not properly designed and installed, carry a risk of cross-connection and can be more energy and carbon intensive than mains supplies. They can also be costly and require routine maintenance in order to maintain effectiveness.
	In light of the above, the Government consider that it would be inappropriate to make regulations to specifically require rainwater harvesting to be provided in all new buildings.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Departmental Pay

Priti Patel: To ask the Attorney-General how much was paid to officials in the Law Officers' Departments in (a) bonuses, (b) allowances and (c) other payments additional to basic salary in each of the last two years for which figures are available; what categories of payment may be made to officials in addition to basic salary; what the monetary value is of each category of payment; and what the monetary value was of the 20 largest such payments made in each of the last two years.

Edward Garnier: Non-consolidated performance-related payments made by the Law Officers' Departments over the last two full financial years are detailed in the following tables. The intention of such payments is to reward high performing staff and thereby maintain effective operational efficiency.
	Payments made by Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol), the Attorney-General's Office (AGO) and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) over the last two full financial years are as follows:
	
		
			  TSol AGO HM CPSI 
			 2010-11    
			 Non-consolidated PRP(1) 319,647 21,075 14,900 
			 Allowances(2) 83,768 16,683 18,945 
			 Other(3) 59,981 25,780 6,028 
			 Total 463,396 63,538 39,873 
			     
			 2009-10    
			 Non-consolidated PRP(1) 558,731 44,959 27,600 
		
	
	
		
			 Allowances(2) 87,763 44,771 19,372 
			 Other(3) 229,214 41,526 31,132 
			 Total 875,708 131,256 78,104 
			 (1) Non-consolidated performance-related pay (2) Allowances: contractual payments in respect of specific posts e.g. on the basis of their location or particular responsibilities.(3) Other: these include in-year special bonus payments, overtime payments and deputising allowances. 
		
	
	The total value of the 20 largest individual payments was as follows. These were payments of non-consolidated PRP to members of the senior civil service (SCS).
	2010-11: £100,000 (20 payments of £5,000 each).
	2009-10: £217,000 (individual payments ranged between £10,000 and £15,000)
	The following table provides details of the total payments made by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to staff through payroll in addition to their basic salary.
	
		
			 £ 
			 Payment type 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Non-consolidated performance related pay 304,033 334,379 
			 Instant bonuses 2,712 3,858 
			 Accountancy allowance 42,465 55,490 
			 Other work related allowance 50,671 40,216 
			 London pay addition 1,200 1,170 
			 Excess fares allowance 16,810 20,561 
			 Total 417,891 455,674 
		
	
	The 20 largest payments made in addition to basic salary in each of these years are:
	2009 - 10
	£12,500
	£7,000
	£6,000
	£4,500
	£3,500
	and others at £2,000
	2010- 11
	£12,000
	£8,000
	£7,500
	£6,500
	£5,000
	and others at £2,000
	The amount paid to Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) officials in non-consolidated performance related payments was £1,023,928 in 2009-10 and £1,321,003 in 2010-11. The majority of the higher payments made in 2010-11 were payments made to SCS under the Civil Scheme, which in that year was subject to a cap for each grade.
	The largest 20 non-consolidated performance payments in each of the last two financial years were as follows, with those in the SCS scheme subject to caps of between £15,000 and £10,000, depending upon grade:
	
		
			 £ 
			  2009-10 2010-11 
			 1 15,000 12,116 
			 2 12,500 10,379 
			 3 10,000 9,324 
			 4 10,000 9,276 
			 5 10,000 8,682 
		
	
	
		
			 6 10,000 8,645 
			 7 10,000 8,553 
			 8 10,000 8,268 
			 9 8,317 8,055 
			 10 6,089 7,741 
			 11 6,045 7,674 
			 12 5,795 7,565 
			 13 5,743 7,213 
			 14 5,698 7,200 
			 15 5,654 7,192 
			 16 5,654 7,178 
			 17 5,521 7,144 
			 18 5,456 7,086 
			 19 5,129 7,063 
			 20 4,989 6,991 
		
	
	The CPS also pays a number of specific allowances as follows:
	Recruitment and retention allowance (RARA)—Inner London £3,000 p.a.
	Recruitment and retention allowance (RARA)—Outer London £1,000 p.a.
	Higher court attendance allowance (HCA)—£1,500 p.a.
	Accountancy allowance (fully qualified)—£5,000 p.a.
	Accountancy allowance—Stage II—£2,000 p.a.
	Accountancy allowance—Stage I—£250 p.a.
	Audit allowance—£3,000 p.a.
	ICT specialist allowance—£3,000 p.a.
	Private secretary allowance—£4,000 p.a.
	Pathfinder allowance—£3,000 p.a.
	Paralegal officer allowance (one-off payment)—£250
	The total amount paid through these allowances was £5,851,579 in 2009-10, £5,506,948 in 2010-11.
	The CPS also makes some other payments to staff in addition to basic salary. These cover items such as overtime, out of hours working for staff (who do not receive overtime), and allowances for work carried out at a higher grade. The total payments made for these items were £6,983,610 in 2009-10 and £6,625,181 in 2010-11. The largest 20 payments here have not been identified as it would incur disproportionate costs to do so.

TRANSPORT

BMI

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the potential effects of the sale of BMI to IAG on businesses in Scotland.

Theresa Villiers: I would refer the hon. Member to my written answer given to the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr Hamilton) and the hon. Member for Poplar and Limehouse (Jim Fitzpatrick) on 28 November 2011, Official Report, column 647W, in relation to the proposed sale of the airline BMI, and to my written answer given again to the hon. Member for Poplar and Limehouse (Jim Fitzpatrick), on 1 December 2011, Official Report, column 1019W, in relation to aviation links between Scotland and London airports.

Departmental Procurement

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in which (a) contracts for rolling stock procurement and (b) other major contracts operated by her Department are made in foreign currencies.

Theresa Villiers: All such contracts are made in pounds sterling.

Departmental Procurement

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is the regular practice of her Department to accept bids priced in whole or part in foreign currencies.

Theresa Villiers: Bids are typically priced in pounds sterling.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Closures

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings (a) she, (b) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and (c) officials in her Department have had on the possible closure of the local offices and regional enforcement centres of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

Michael Penning: As has been the practice of previous Administrations information relating to internal meetings, discussions and advice is not normally disclosed. Meetings between Ministers and Permanent Secretaries and external organisations are published on a quarterly basis. Information for 13 May 2010 to 30 June 2011 is available on the Department of Transport's website:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/ministerial-transparency/#meetings
	More recent information will be published in due course.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Closures

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations she has received on the possible closure of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's local offices and regional enforcement centres.

Michael Penning: Between 13 December 2011 and 10 January 2012, about 250 responses have been received to the public consultation from a range of stakeholders and customers. A summary of responses and the outcome of the consultation will be available as soon as possible after the consultation closes on 6 March 2012.
	In the same time frame 24 parliamentary questions and 14 letters from hon. Members to the Department for Transport have also been dealt with.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Closures

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department has undertaken an equality impact assessment in respect of the possible closure of the local offices and regional enforcement centres of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

Michael Penning: No formal equality impact assessment has been completed at this stage, although equality matters were considered in the development of the proposals. An equality impact assessment is being undertaken as part of the current consultation process.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Finance

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what revenue was generated by the local offices and regional enforcement centres of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in each of the last five years; and what proportion of the DVLA's annual revenue this constitutes.

Michael Penning: The following table shows the cumulative revenue requested for the last four financial years. The information for 2006-07 is not readily available and would incur disproportionate costs to gather.
	
		
			  Local Office and Enforcement Centre revenue (£ million) Agency revenue (£ million) Local Office and Enforcement Centre as a percentage of the agency revenue 
			 2007-08 475 5,943 7.99 
			 2008-09 440 6,190 7.11 
			 2009-10 424 6,433 6.59 
			 2010-11 420 6,467 6.49

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Manpower

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average length of service is of staff employed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency at each local office and regional enforcement centre. [Official Report, 23 February 2012, Vol. 540, c. 1MC.]

Michael Penning: The following table provides the average length of service of staff employed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's local office and regional enforcement centres.
	
		
			  Average length of service in years 
			 Local Office  
			 Aberdeen 13.8 
			 Bangor 11.9 
			 Beverley 9.6 
			 Birmingham 8.2 
			 Borehamwood 10.7 
			 Bournemouth 11.0 
			 Brighton 11.9 
			 Bristol 9.3 
			 Cardiff 9.6 
			 Carlisle 7.8 
			 Chelmsford 10.8 
			 Chester 10.3 
			 Dundee 10.5 
			 Edinburgh 9.2 
			 Exeter 8.0 
			 Glasgow 9.7 
			 Inverness 5.7 
			 Ipswich 13.1 
			 Leeds 9.7 
			 Lincoln 11.2 
			 Maidstone 13.7 
			 Manchester 8.1 
			 Newcastle 9.4 
			 Northampton 7.2 
			 Norwich 9.4 
			 Nottingham 7.9 
			 Oxford 16.1 
		
	
	
		
			 Peterborough 8.3 
			 Portsmouth 11.2 
			 Preston 9.4 
			 Reading 9.9 
			 Sheffield 11.8 
			 Shrewsbury 12.5 
			 Sidcup 11.2 
			 Stockton 10.5 
			 Swansea Office 11.0 
			 Truro 6.2 
			 Wimbledon 9.7 
			 Worcester 12.4 
			   
			 Central Regional Enforcement Centre  
			 Bournemouth 10.2 
			 Glasgow 11.5 
			 Northampton 9.6

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Redundancy Pay

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of her Department's liability for redundancy payments following the planned closure of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's local offices and regional enforcement centres.

Michael Penning: The Department's liability for redundancy payments is estimated to be £32 million for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's local offices and regional enforcement centres.

Driving Under Influence: Rehabilitation

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have had with potential providers of drink-drive rehabilitation courses.

Michael Penning: Driving Standards Agency (DSA) officials have had regular meetings and communications with potential providers of Drink Drive Rehabilitation (DDR) courses. All existing course providers are potential providers under the proposed scheme.
	Since 2009, DSA has actively engaged with The Association of Drink Drive Providers of Training (ADDAPT)—the representative body for DDR course providers. DSA officials have attended ADDAPT management meetings, quarterly ADDAPT 'full members' meetings and taken an active part in ADDAPT Study days, including running workshops. ADDAPT has also been closely involved in the development of the DDR Scheme Course Syllabus, which DSA published to coincide with the “New approval arrangements for drink-drive rehabilitation courses” consultation paper.
	Since July 2009, 20 out of the 21 existing course providers have been visited by DSA officials. DSA has also responded to a number of expressions of interest from organisations wishing to provide DDR courses. The agency corresponded with these organisations to keep them informed as to current developments and the consultation.

Oil

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what progress has been made on the inclusion of a default value for tar sands in the European Fuel Quality Directive;
	(2)  what her policy is on the European Commission's proposal for a greenhouse gas emissions value for oil produced from tar sands.

Norman Baker: The European Commission put forward proposals on 4 October 2011 for implementing the Fuel Quality Directive that cover a wide range of issues including a default value for the greenhouse gas intensity of oil sands/natural bitumen. The Government are considering how these align with our environmental objectives.
	We are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and want the Fuel Quality Directive to be a key tool in achieving this aim. The Government are therefore seeking an effective solution to address the carbon emissions from all highly polluting crudes, not just those from oil sands.
	Member state representatives of the Committee on Fuel Quality met on. 25 October and 2 December 2011 to discuss these implementing measures. Further meetings are provisionally scheduled for February and March this year. Member states have not yet been asked to vote on the European Commission's proposals.

Railway Stations: Greater London

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the change in the level of revenue generated at stations on the London Liverpool Street to Enfield Town line since the introduction of ticketing barriers; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not hold detailed information relating to changes in revenue generated at specific stations. Ticket barriers are an effective method of preventing ticketless travel, thereby protecting revenue.

Railways: Conflict of Interests

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2011, Official Report, column 88W, on railways: franchises, which consultants have declared potential conflicts of interest in advising her Department on rail (a) franchises and (b) procurement contracts in the last 18 months. [R]

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 12 January 2012
	Interfleet notified the Department on three occasions of potential conflicts of interest as answered in:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm111101/text/111101w0005.htm#11110220000529
	There have been no other conflicts of interest formally declared by consultants in the last 18 months.

Railways: Finance

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding has been allocated to the (a) Thameslink rolling stock and (b) Intercity Express programme; and if she will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: Thameslink rolling stock will be funded by train operating companies paying a lease charge to the train manufacturer and Maintained Intercity Express programme rolling stock will be funded via train operating companies paying set access payments to the train service provider.
	The budgets for these payments have been confirmed as part of the 2010 comprehensive spending review.

Railways: Finance

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she proposes that her Department should take account of the underlying interest rate risk on the long-term LIBOR swap rate between the bid date and financial close of each batch for each bidder for the (a) Intercity Express Programme and (b) Thameslink Rolling Stock Programme.

Theresa Villiers: The Department tracks underlying LIBOR rates, and their repercussions on the Intercity Express Programme and Thameslink Rolling Stock Project contract awards, on an ongoing basis. Fluctuation of inter-banking lending rates remains the Department's risk up to the point of financial close.

Railways: Profits

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which rail routes made (a) a profit, (b) a running profit only and (c) a loss in the latest period for which figures are available.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 16 January 2012
	The Department does not currently hold this information but is aware that the Office of Rail Regulation is seeking to publish income and expenditure information by Network Rail route for the year 2010-11.

Railways: Reform

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) was the initial and (b) is the current expected delivery month or quarter for (i) legislative proposals being brought forward in response to the McNulty Review on reforming the railways, (ii) the reform of Network Rail, (iii) the announcement on changes to the powers of the Office of Rail Regulation, (iv) the High Level Output Specification, (v) the next letting of the West Coast Intercity franchise, (vi) the order for Intercity Express trains and (vii) the order for Thameslink trains.

Theresa Villiers: Planned and actual delivery dates for departmental commitments are published in the DFT Strategic Business Plan, available on the Department's website and updated monthly.
	The Department expects to publish shortly a Command Paper on Rail, which will include proposals on the structure of Network Rail. The Department and Office of Rail Regulation are currently consulting jointly on the role of the regulator, and the consultation is due to close on 2 March 2012.
	The High Level Output Specification is due to be published by July 2012, and delivery remains on track.
	The new Intercity West Coast franchise is due to be awarded in the summer, and to commence in December 2012.
	The Department is planning to reach financial close for both IEP and Thameslink in the spring of this year.

Railways: Richmond upon Thames

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will consider the merits of reviewing passenger overcrowding on commuter rail services serving stations in Richmond Park constituency.

Theresa Villiers: The Department regularly monitors levels of overcrowding on peak services into London Waterloo through the provisions of the franchise agreement.
	On 23 December 2011, the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), announced that South West Trains passengers will benefit from 60 extra carriages that are being funded by the Government. Their arrival will mean that services from Windsor, Weybridge (via Staines), Portsmouth, Southampton, Eastleigh, Reading, Hounslow and Alton into Waterloo can be lengthened and additional services will also run from Reading. Their deployment will mean that platform 20 at the former Waterloo International Terminal will come back into use from 2014.
	The carriages—which will allow around 8,000 extra peak-time passengers into Waterloo every morning—will begin arriving from May 2013, with all new services in place by July 2014.

Road Traffic Offences

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many local authorities in England and Wales have been consulted on implementation of Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 relating to the enforcement of moving traffic contraventions; and what proportion this figure represents of all such local authorities;
	(2)  whether her Department plans to consult local authorities on their views on implementation of Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 relating to the enforcement of moving traffic contraventions; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  which public and private sector organisations have made representations to her Department to express (a) support for and (b) opposition to the implementation of Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 relating to the enforcement of moving traffic contraventions;
	(4)  for what reasons Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 relating to the enforcement of moving traffic contraventions has not yet been implemented;
	(5)  what estimate she has made of the cost of implementing Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 relating to the enforcement of moving traffic contraventions.

Norman Baker: holding answer 1 December 2011
	In December 2010 I wrote to 20 local authorities to gauge enthusiasm for implementation of Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004. The 20 authorities were those judged most likely to wish to adopt the powers in Part 6, and represent 13% of the total 152 English local authorities. 14 replies were received.
	At that time, I was not persuaded that there was sufficient appetite from councils and motorists, or that enough evidence had been provided about the likely benefits and costs, to justify bringing these powers into force. I also indicated that I was prepared to keep the matter under review. Further representations have been received since then, and as a result I am reflecting on the case for implementation and will be reviewing available evidence from Transport for London and the London boroughs, who already carry out civil enforcement of these contraventions. The views of road users themselves will also be a key consideration.
	Since the 14 responses mentioned above, the Department for Transport has received representations from Kent county council, Stoke city council, Test Valley council, North Tyneside council, Medway and Bath council and North East Somerset council, the Local Government Association, the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association and Startraq (UK) Ltd in favour of implementing the powers. The Department has not received any representations against the introduction of the powers.
	The Secretary of State for Transport, the right hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening), has not made an estimate of the cost of implementing Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004.
	However, a full impact assessment would be carried out if it were decided to implement these powers.

Road Works: Greater London

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2011, Official Report, column 729W, on roadworks, whether her Department has made an assessment of whether street work legislation is working effectively in London.

Norman Baker: No specific assessment has been made by the Department of the effectiveness of street works legislation across London.

Shipping: Marriage

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to authorise the captains of British-flagged vessels to conduct weddings.

Michael Penning: My Department is exploring options to allow weddings and civil partnership ceremonies on board UK registered ships.
	This is a legally complex area. Any proposed legislation would have to deal with marriage and civil partnerships as separate provisions and it would have to ensure proper regard is given to the differing systems in the devolved administrations.
	Where a marriage takes place at sea, there could be difficulty in determining the country in which the ceremony took place and any legislation would need to be clear about whose jurisdiction the ship is in, in order to determine what legal requirements must be met to perform a valid marriage or civil partnership.
	Finally, it should be noted that it would not be for the captain to conduct the ceremony but an official registrar or superintendant.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what methods are used by his Department to measure the effects of its decisions on the subjective well-being of children.

Maria Miller: The Department for Work and Pensions is working with the Office for National Statistics and a range of stakeholders, including other Government Departments and representatives from the third sector, to develop well-being measures for children and young people as part of the overall Measuring National Well-being programme.
	Measures appropriate to children and young people need to include both their own views about their well-being as well as more objective measures of the circumstances that children and young people find themselves in. Collecting subjective well-being information from children is important because research has shown that parents' reporting of children's subjective well-being is quite different from the way children report it themselves.
	This work will provide more robust intelligence about children's well-being and the factors that contribute to it, provide a measure of children's well-being in the UK in comparison to other comparable countries, and drive policy prioritisation to improve outcomes for children and young people.

Departmental Location

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which posts in his Department have been transferred from Fylde coast to (a) Sheffield and (b) elsewhere in the UK since 2005.

Chris Grayling: The Department does not centrally record information on posts in a way that would allow any transfers to be tracked and monitored. Therefore it is not possible to provide the information requested.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Peter Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether any (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department have received hospitality from Japan Tobacco International since May 2010.

Chris Grayling: Information about hospitality received by Ministers and special advisers is published quarterly by Departments. Information for the period 13 May 2010 to 30 June 2011 can be accessed on departmental websites. Information for 1 July onwards will be published in due course.

Departmental Private Investigators

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on private investigators in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: I can confirm that DWP does not use private investigators to investigate benefit fraud. The Fraud Investigation Service (FIS), part of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), investigates fraud in all benefits administered by DWP.

Departmental Work Experience

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidelines his Department issues to its non-departmental public bodies on the employment of unpaid interns.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions has not issued guidance to its non-departmental public bodies on the employment of unpaid interns.

Disability Living Allowance

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for attendance and disability living allowances have been made in each of the last four years; and how many were (a) awarded on first application, (b) awarded after an internal review and (c) awarded after a First Tier Tribunal hearing.

Maria Miller: Information on the number of disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) new claim applications received in each of the last four calendar years can be found in the following table:
	
		
			 New claim applications received 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 DLA New claims received 463,100 485,500 448,100 432,200 
			 AA New claims received 388,200 384,000 337,600 318,900 
		
	
	Details of DLA and AA decisions and awards for new claims, reconsiderations and appeals can be found, in the following tables:
	
		
			 Disability living allowance 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 DLA New claims decisions 471,000 477,600 463,500 425,800 
			 DLA New claims awards successful 213,900 214,200 203,600 186,800 
			 DLA New claim success (percentage) 45.4 44.8 43.9 43.9 
			 DLA Reconsideration decisions 136,700 133,400 143,400 134,300 
		
	
	
		
			 DLA Reconsideration awards successful 67,300 65,800 63,300 57,700 
			 DLA Reconsideration success (percentage) 49.2 49.3 44.1 43.0 
			 DLA Appeal decisions to tribunal 55,400 51,400 48,500 65,600 
			 DLA Appeal successful 24,400 21,300 19,100 25,700 
			 DLA Appeal success (percentage) 44.0 41.4 39.4 39.2 
		
	
	
		
			 Attendance allowance 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 AA New claim decisions 390,800 380,900 340,300 310,900 
			 AA New claim awards successful 324,600 315,500 279,300 249,300 
			 AA New claim success (percentage) 83.1 82.8 82.1 80.2 
			 AA Reconsideration decisions 18,200 16,500 17,700 17,900 
			 AA Reconsideration awards successful 10,600 9,600 9,200 9,000 
			 AA Reconsideration success (percentage) 58.2 58.2 52.0 50.3 
			 AA Appeal decisions to tribunal 3,300 2,800 2,700 3,500 
			 AA Appeal successful 1,000 800 600 900 
			 AA Appeal success (percentage) 30.3 28.6 22.2 25.7 
			 Notes: 1. All figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. The data provided is for each calendar year January to December. 3. New claims figures also includes claims made under the special rules. 4. The figures provided for the number of new claim applications received and the new claim decisions made were processed in the time period stated only and can not be correlated with each other. This is because of the time lag between claims being received and registered on to the DLA/AA Computer System and a decision being made. This would also be the case where customers have withdrawn their claim prior to a decision being made. 5. The DLA management information on appeal decisions does not enable us to identify the type of decision that the customer is disputing. The appeal figures shown will include appeals against a new claim decision and appeals where the customer is disputing a lower level of benefit or rejection of DLA following re-assessment. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, RDA/AA60209 and RDA/AA60205 reports DLA/AA Management Information Statistics.

Employment Schemes

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a full list of providers of mandatory work activity.

Chris Grayling: The full list of mandatory work activity providers, broken down by contract package area is as follows;
	
		
			 CPA CPA Name Preferred bidder 
			 CPA1 South east A4e 
			 CPA2 South west Rehab Group 
			 CPA3 London Seetec 
			 CPA4 East of England Seetec 
			 CPA5 East Midlands Ingeus 
			 CPA6 West Midlands ESG 
			 CPA7 North west JHP Group 
			 CPA8 Yorkshire and Humber BEST 
			 CPA9 North east Ingeus 
			 CPA10 Scotland JHP Group 
			 CPA11 Wales Rehab Group

Employment Schemes

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what are the current maximum and minimum single payments to mandatory work activity providers.

Chris Grayling: The specific amounts paid to individual mandatory work activity providers are commercial in confidence.

Employment: Refugees

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what data his Department holds on employment outcomes for people with refugee status.

Chris Grayling: Claimants leaving benefits are not required to inform the Department of their destinations and hence the employment outcome information that is collected is incomplete.
	Jobcentre Plus has the capability to record a claimant's refugee status, where this is voluntarily given by the claimant. The information is collected for internal use within Jobcentre Plus to help identify barriers to employment and support that the individual may need. It does not give a complete assessment of the number of refugees that claim benefits or are otherwise in receipt of DWP services. The information is not published.

Future Jobs Fund

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which employers in (a) Peterborough and (b) Cambridgeshire have participated in the Future Jobs Fund programme.

Chris Grayling: The Department does not hold records of the individual organisations that provided temporary employment through the Future Jobs Fund (FJF). Bids for FJF funding were submitted on a regional or national basis. The lead accountable bodies who were successful in receiving FJF awards in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire are listed as follows:
	Peterborough
	Peterborough city council
	Salvation Army—(as part of a national bid)
	Football League Trust—(as part of a national bid)
	National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure—(as part of a national bid)
	Barnardo’s—(as part of a national bid)
	Cambridgeshire
	Cambridge county council
	Norfolk county council/Renaissance East of England
	National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure—(as part of a national bid)
	3SC—(as part of a national bid)
	Groundwork and NHF—(as part of a national bid)
	Urban Futures—(as part of a national bid)
	Community Service Volunteers—(as part of a national bid).

Housing Benefit

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the effect of changes in limits on housing benefits to ensure tenants are not forced to pay the difference between the rent owed and the claimable amount.

Steve Webb: The Government introduced caps to local housing allowance rates on 1 April 2011, as part of wider reforms to control the cost of housing benefit which reached £21 billion in 2010-11 and, if left unreformed, would reach £26 billion in 2014-15.
	We have put some measures in place to mitigate the impact of these changes on claimants. They include:
	Those already receiving housing benefit before 1 April 2011 will not normally be affected by the changes until the anniversary date of their claim, with a further nine months transitional protection. As a result some may have until December 2012 before they are affected.
	The sum allocated by Government for discretionary housing payments, which can be paid to those in receipt of housing benefit who face a shortfall in meeting their contractual rent, has increased by £10 million in 2011 and by £40 million a year for the three following years. So the total discretionary housing payment budget for 2012-13 is £60 million. This will help local authorities to give additional support where they consider it is needed.
	In addition, over the spending review period, DWP are providing £50 million to support local authorities in the implementation of the housing benefit reforms which came into force on 1 April 2011. This will enable them to give targeted housing support to claimants who may be affected by these changes.
	Since 1 April 2011, we have temporarily widened local authorities' discretion to make payments direct to private landlords where it helps a housing benefit claimant to either secure or retain a tenancy. This additional safeguard is intended to be used only where landlords reduce the rent to an affordable level for housing benefit claimants.

Industrial Diseases: Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims were submitted for beat knee and osteoarthritis by former coal miners in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011; and how many of such claims resulted in industrial disease payments in (i) Bassetlaw constituency and (ii) nationally.

Steve Webb: The information is not available at parliamentary constituency level for new claims and claims put into payment. The national number of claims and payable assessments for the prescribed disease A14 (osteoarthritis of the knee in underground coal miners) is as follows:
	
		
			 Osteoarthritis of the knee 
			  2009 2010 2011 
			 Claims 31,280 10,210 1,110 
			 Assessments leading to payments 3,910 12,270 710 
		
	
	The total claims number is the only information available on the number of claims for the prescribed disease A6 (bursitis—commonly known as ‘beat knee’). The A6 payable assessments figure can be provided for those who worked in the mining and quarrying industry.
	
		
			 A6 Bursitis (beat knee) 
			  2009 2010 2011 
			 All Claims 1,810 640 80 
			 All Assessments leading to payments 40 50 10 
			 Mining and quarrying assessments leading to payments 30 40 10 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Claims from people resident overseas are included, 3. Figures are provisional and are subject to revision. 4. Comparing claims and payable first assessments will give an estimated success rate only as decisions on claims submitted are not necessarily made in the same time period. 5. Prescribed disease A14 was introduced from 13 July 2009, and many claims were not decided until 2010. 6. Most recent data is the quarter to March 2011. 
		
	
	Information available for analysis on industrial injuries disablement benefit covers a variety of measures including new claims, first assessments and case loads, and is published on the Department’s website at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=iidb
	Quarterly case load information is allocated to geographic areas at the level of parliamentary constituency but no prescribed disease/accident split is available from this source of data. The annual case load data does have a prescribed disease/accident split, however, the latest data available from this is for March 2008.

Industrial Injuries: Construction

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of recent trends in the number of (a) fatalities and (b) injuries in the construction industry; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publishes annual statistics on the health and safety performance of the construction industry.
	There has been a steady and long-term reduction in both numbers and rates of work-related injuries in the construction industry. In 2006/07 there were 79 workers killed with a corresponding rate of 3.2 per 100,000 compared with provisional figures for 2010/11 showing 50 workers killed and a rate of 2.4. Reported major injuries to employees in construction for the same years show a drop from 3,742 to 2,298, with a corresponding change in rate from 231.6 to 173.2 per 100,000.

Industrial Injuries: Construction

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will bring forward proposals to reduce the number of (a) fatalities and (b) injuries in the construction industry; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: Regulation of the construction industry remains a high priority for the Health and Safety Executive and is delivered through an evidence-based programme of work. This targets areas of greatest risk and where risk is not appropriately managed. The programme includes provision of advice and information, inspection, enforcement, investigation of incidents and engagement with industry bodies to improve health and safety standards across the supply chain.

New Deal Schemes

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to reach a settlement with providers following the early termination of Flexible New Deal contracts.

Chris Grayling: We have reached a settlement with 12 of the 14 former Flexible New Deal providers. Negotiations with the remaining two are ongoing.

PAYE

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date the Joint Ministerial Steering Group last met to discuss the PAYE Real-Time Information project; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	The last meeting of the Joint Ministerial Steering Group was on 12 October 2011.

Social Security Benefits

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many applications for incapacity benefit have been made in each of the last four years; and how many were (a) awarded on first application, (b) awarded after an internal review and (c) awarded after a First Tier Tribunal hearing;
	(2)  how many applications for employment and support allowance have been made in each of the last four years; and how many were (a) awarded on first application, (b) awarded after an internal review and (c) awarded after a First Tier Tribunal hearing;
	(3)  how many applications for income support have been made in each of the last four years; and how many were (a) awarded on first application, (b) awarded after an internal review and (c) awarded after a First Tier Tribunal hearing;
	(4)  how many applications for jobseeker's allowance have been made in each of the last four years; and how many were (a) awarded on first application, (b) awarded after an internal review and (c) awarded after a First Tier Tribunal hearing.

Chris Grayling: The total number of applications received, and subsequently awarded, for incapacity benefit (IB), employment and support allowance (ESA), income support (IS) and jobseeker's allowance (JSA) for the last four years is detailed in Table 1 as follows:
	
		
			 Table 1: DWP benefit applications and awards, 2008-09 to 2011-12 (to November 2011) 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 (to November 2011) 
			 IB     
			 Applications received (1)480,000 24,900 11,600 0 
			 Awards (2)159,700 20,600 (3)12,500 0 
			      
			 ESA     
			 Applications received (4)241,800 692,700 715,100 485,300 
			 Awards (4)187,300 603,800 603,700 410,800 
			      
			 IS     
			 Applications received 836,500 475,300 439,100 266,900 
			 Awards 615,000 367,800 347,400 213,700 
			      
			 JSA     
			 Applications received 3,290,300 3,744,500 3,468,100 2,283,200 
			 Awards 2,750,400 3,147,100 2,918,000 1,916,200 
			 (1) IB applications received significantly reduced in 2008-09 due to the introduction of ESA in October 2008. (2) IB awards appear low relative to applications received in 2008-09 because the data only capture claimants awarded IB based on their contributions record. The remaining claimants may well have made a successful application to IS on incapacity grounds due to having insufficient contributions to be entitled to IB. (3) We awarded more IB claims than received in 2010-11 as we completed processing all claims outstanding from the year before, while IB was closed to new claims. (4) ESA was only introduced in October 2008. Note: MISP is the Department's internal performance management, data capture and reporting tool. This type of information does not form part of the official statistics outputs that are released by the Department in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority's Code of Practice. The data can be subject to refresh. Source: DWP's Management Information System Program (MISP),12 January 2012. 
		
	
	There are many reasons why there is a difference between the number of claims received and the number awarded in any given year; this is not limited to claimant's not meeting the conditions of entitlement. Other reasons include, but are not limited to, claims not being fully processed within a single tax year or claimants withdrawing applications.
	Information on awards made after an internal review is not available.
	Table 2 as follows shows the total number of IB, ESA, JSA and IS appeals administered by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) in the past four years. However, HMCTS does not record the issue under appeal and therefore cannot isolate data relating specifically to appeals on the basis of a claim for benefit having been refused.
	
		
			 Table 2: HMCTS appeal outcomes for selected DWP benefits, 2008-09 to 2011-12 (to October 2011) 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 (to October 2011) 
			 Appeal type Cases cleared at hearing Number decided in favour of appellant Cases cleared at hearing Number decided in favour of appellant Cases cleared at hearing Number decided in favour of appellant Cases cleared at hearing Number decided in favour of appellant 
			 IB 62,900 31,700 47,200 24,100 31,200 15,600 15,100 7,700 
			 ESA 27 1 50,800 19,000 127,100 47,600 96,900 36,600 
			 JSA 9,200 2,300 17,500 3,100 27,500 3,600 20,100 3,000 
			 IS 12,200 4,000 11,800 3,400 10,500 3,000 5,300 1,400 
			 Source: HMCTS Management Information System, 2011 and published data.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people resident in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency have been prosecuted for (a) benefit fraud and (b) related offences in each of the last three years.

Chris Grayling: Prosecution data specific to your Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency is not available.

Social Security Benefits: Glasgow North

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of recipients of (a) disability living allowance, (b) employment and support allowance and (c) incapacity benefit in Glasgow North constituency who have had claims refused have taken their case to tribunal in each month since January 2011.

Maria Miller: We are unable to provide information on recipients of disability living allowance (DLA) in Glasgow North constituency whose claims have been refused, and have taken their case to tribunal. This is because this level of detail is not mutually reported and to obtain this would be at disproportionate cost to the Department.
	Data on outcomes of assessments for employment and support allowance (ESA) are not available for the Glasgow North parliamentary constituency. However data are available for the Glasgow City unitary authority area. Between January 2011 and May 2011 (the latest data available) there were approximately 4,200 people from the Glasgow City unitary authority area who underwent an initial work capability assessment (WCA) for ESA. Of these approximately 2,800, or 66%, were assessed as being fit for work and therefore not eligible for ESA.
	The equivalent information for incapacity benefit (IB) is not available since IB was replaced by ESA in October 2008 and any new claims received after this date were directed to claim ESA instead.
	Data on the assessment outcomes of the incapacity benefits reassessment programme are not available. Due to the overall length of the incapacity benefits reassessment process, information on the process including the final outcomes is not yet available. Individual level data are being collected and the Department plans to publish data on the outcomes of the reassessment process once they have been fully quality assured.
	Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), who administer social security appeals, do not hold any data specific to the Glasgow North constituency. While the majority of DLA, ESA and IB appeals made by people in this constituency are heard in the hearing venue in Glasgow North, this venue also hears appeals from other nearby locations.
	The following table shows the number of appeals received in the Glasgow North tribunal venue for DLA, ESA, ESA (IB Reassessment) and IB from January 2011 to October 2011 (the latest date for which information is available). The tribunal does not record the issue under appeal and therefore cannot isolate data relating to appeals on the basis of a claim for benefit having been refused.
	Note that the figures in the table cannot be used in combination with the figures on ESA provided above, since they relate to a different time period and do not cover claims from the same geographical area.
	
		
			 Appeal type Cases received by HMCTS in Glasgow North venue (January to October 2011) 
			 DLA 1,900 
			 ESA 3,400 
			 ESA (IB reassessment) 100 
			 IB 400 
			 All appeals 5,700 
			 Notes: 1. The Department regularly publishes data on ESA and WCA. The latest publication can be found on the departmental website at: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_wca 2. Data on ESA assessments and outcomes are taken from administrative data held by the Department for Work and Pensions and assessment data provided by Atos Healthcare. 3. Appeals data are taken from HMCTS management information. 4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100 and percentages to the nearest percentage point.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what data on savings held by individuals he will use to apply the proposed capital limits for universal credit.

Chris Grayling: Claimants will be asked when making a claim to universal credit to provide details of any capital they have. For universal credit capital will include savings, stocks and shares, property and trusts. It will not include property occupied by the claimant as his or her main home, personal injury payments placed in trust funds, certain other compensation payments, personal pension schemes and retirement annuity contracts; or business assets.

Work Capability Assessments

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many work capability assessments he expects to have been completed for people previously in receipt of incapacity benefit by the end of (a) 2012, (b) each quarter of 2012 and (c) each month of 2012.

Chris Grayling: The information in the table can only ever be a forecast. In 2012 we expect the number of people, currently in receipt of incapacity benefit, who will receive a work capability assessment to be as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			 (a) By end of 2012 322,388 
			 (b) Each quarter of 2012 80,598 
			 (c) Each month in 2012 26,866

Work Capability Assessments

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to page 11 of the Government's response to Professor Malcolm Harrington's Second Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment, for what reasons Macmillan Cancer Support did not support the Government's proposals in relation to people with cancer.

Chris Grayling: As a result of evidence supplied by Macmillan Cancer Support (Macmillan), the Department developed proposals for changing the way in which the Work Capability Assessment assesses individuals being treated for cancer. We had hoped to introduce these proposals in April 2012. However, following detailed discussions with Macmillan, we have been unable to secure their support to our proposals.
	Why Macmillan were unable to support our proposals is an issue for Macmillan, not for the Department, to address.

Work Capability Assessments

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to page 11 of the Government's response to Professor Malcolm Harrington's Second Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment, what his timetable is for the introduction of new proposals on people with cancer in receipt of employment and support allowance.

Chris Grayling: In the Government's response to Professor Harrington's second independent review of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), we announced our intention to consult on our proposals for changing the WCA for cancer sufferers. An informal consultation was launched on 16 December 2011, which will run until 9 March 2012. The evidence will then be properly considered by the Department and we will publish a response document in spring 2012. This document will set out the evidence received and announce any proposals for changing the WCA.

Work Capability Assessments

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many responses his Department has received to date to its consultation entitled Work Capability Assessment: accounting for the effects of cancer treatment.

Chris Grayling: To date we have received 12 responses to the consultation. The consultation runs until 9 March 2012 and during this time we are seeking views from interested stakeholders, particularly from individuals who have been or are being affected by cancer, their families and carers, health care practitioners and cancer specialists, and employers.

Work Capability Assessments

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to page 12 of the Government's response to Professor Malcolm Harrington's Second Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment, 
	(1)  when he last met (a) Mind, (b) Mencap and (c) the National Autistic Society to discuss changes to the ESA50 questionnaire;
	(2)  what progress he has made on possible changes to the ESA50 questionnaire in relation to individuals with mental health conditions.

Chris Grayling: I met with representatives of Mind, Mencap and the National Autistic Society, together with Professor Tom Sensky who chaired Professor Harrington's scrutiny group which worked with the charities in developing their recommendations, on 12 September 2011. We discussed whether we could integrate into the ESA50 some of the principles of the recommendations which the charities had made to Professor Harrington.
	Since that meeting the charities have met with officials from the Department for Work and Pensions on 13 October 2011 and 15 December 2011 to discuss the changes in detail. Good progress has been made, and an updated version of the form has been drafted.
	Further consultation and testing will be carried out to ensure the changes have the desired result of helping to collect the best possible evidence ahead of a Work Capability Assessment. Our intention is that an updated version of the ESA50 will go live later this year.

Work Capability Assessments

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to page 17 of the Government's response to Professor Malcolm Harrington's Second Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment, what assessment he has made of the changes to the descriptors in March 2011.

Chris Grayling: Changes were made to the descriptors in March 2011 following a Department-led review of the work capability assessment (WCA). The Department modelled and published details of the expected effects of these changes as part of the Department-led review.
	As with any changes to the WCA, the Department monitors the effects of the changes closely. Monitoring of the WCA is done through a number of different means, including through annual independent reviews, internal monitoring and analysis, and auditing of Atos Healthcare.

Work Experience

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many young people in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) Greater London have participated in his Department’s work experience programme.

Chris Grayling: Between January and August 2011, there were 3,700 starts on work experience in London and the home counties.
	The Department does not publish work experience information at constituency level.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Public Expenditure

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the potential effects of the reduction to its budget announced in the Autumn Statement; and if he will place in the Library the full content of any such assessment.

Andrew Mitchell: The potential effects of the reduction in the budget announced in the autumn statement is that the Government will not exceed their commitment to meet the target for international development spending of 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) from 2013.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many temporary staff were recruited to his Department between September and November 2011.

Alan Duncan: A total of 30 temporary staff (15 in September, 13 in October and two in November) were recruited into the Department for International Development between September and November 2011.
	All posts were considered by an Approvals Panel as Business Critical—to provide surge capacity or to cover for the temporary absence of key staff.

Development Aid

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to launch a public consultation on his plan to enshrine in law the UK's commitment to spend 0.7 per cent. of gross national income on overseas aid.

Alan Duncan: A draft Bill to enshrine the UK's commitment on spending 0.7% gross national income (GNI) on Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) from 2013 onwards into law underwent full parliamentary scrutiny by the International Development Select Committee in 2009-10.
	The commitment to proceed with enshrining 0.7% in law was subsequently included in all three main parties' manifestoes at the 2010 general election.
	The Government remains committed to doing so, as set out in “The Coalition: our programme for government”.

Famine: International Co-operation

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with his (a) European, (b) Commonwealth and (c) other international counterparts on endorsing the Charter to End Extreme Hunger.

Alan Duncan: The Government supports the aim of the Charter to End Extreme Hunger, which is to reduce the likelihood of crises such as that currently affecting the Horn of Africa taking place in the future. Analysis conducted by the Department for International Development concluded that of the Charter's 13 recommendations, the Government are already carrying out seven and considering another two. The four remaining recommendations we deem to be unworkable. The Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), wrote in November to the non-governmental organisations behind the Charter to let them know that therefore the Government would not formally endorse the Charter. The issue has not been raised in discussions with his international counterparts.
	In at-risk areas such as the Horn, the Government are already supporting the strengthened warning systems, resilience to disasters and stability that the Charter calls for. In Ethiopia, for example, we are helping 7.8 million people to break their need for emergency aid by providing support before food insecurity reaches famine levels. The Secretary of State for International Development has also mobilised a group of high level political champions to make sure that much greater attention is given to disaster resilience in order to reduce the likelihood of similar crises taking place in the future—both in the Horn of Africa and elsewhere.

Food Aid

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make it his policy to endorse the Save the Children Charter to End Extreme Hunger.

Alan Duncan: The Government supports the aim of the Charter to End Extreme Hunger, which is to reduce the likelihood of crises such as that currently affecting the Horn of Africa taking place in the future. In at-risk areas such as the Horn, we are already supporting the strengthened warning systems, resilience to disasters and stability that the Charter calls for. In Ethiopia, for example, we are helping 7.8 million people to break their need for emergency aid by providing support before food insecurity reaches famine levels.
	Analysis conducted by the Department for International Development concluded that of the Charter's 13 commitments, the Government are already carrying out seven and considering another two. The four remaining commitments we deem to be unworkable. The Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), wrote in November to the non-governmental organisations behind the Charter to note therefore that while the Government will not formally endorse the Charter, he will take appropriate opportunities to express publicly his support for the Charter's aims.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department plans to review the town and cities which are used as dispersal areas for asylum seekers; and when any such review will take place.

Damian Green: There are no plans to conduct a formal review. However, accommodation providers are contractually required to maintain ongoing consultation arrangements with local authorities and heath, education and housing authorities in the areas where the asylum seekers are placed. This means that the impact of the dispersal policy on the particular area is regularly assessed.

Asylum

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which towns and cities are designated as dispersal areas for asylum seekers.

Damian Green: The towns and cities that are currently used to accommodate destitute asylum seekers are:
	Derby
	Leicester
	Nottingham
	Ipswich
	Luton
	Norwich
	Peterborough
	Waltham Cross
	Westcliff on Sea
	Bilston
	Birmingham
	Brierly Hill
	Coventry
	Dudley
	Oldbury Rowley Regis Smethwick
	Stoke on Trent
	Tipton
	Walsall
	Wednesbury
	West Bromwich
	Willenhal
	Wolverhampton
	Gateshead
	Hartlepool
	Hebburn
	Jarrow
	Middlesbrough
	Newcastle Upon Tyne
	North Shields
	South Shields
	Stockton on Tees
	Sunderland
	Wallsend
	Barnsley
	Bradford
	Dewsbury
	Doncaster
	Halifax
	Heckmondwike
	Huddersfield
	Hull
	Keighley
	Leeds
	Normanton
	Ossett
	Pontefract
	Rotherham
	Sheffield
	Shipley
	Wakefield
	London
	Hastings
	Oxford
	Portsmouth
	Southampton
	Southsea
	St Leonards on Sea
	Altringham
	Ashton Under Lyne
	Blackburn
	Bolton
	Bury
	Cheadle
	Darwen
	Heywood
	Hyde
	Leigh
	Liverpool
	Manchester
	Oldham
	Rochdale
	Salford
	Stalybridge
	Stockport
	Warrington
	Wigan
	Belfast
	Glasgow
	Bristol
	Gloucester
	Swindon
	Plymouth
	Cardiff
	Newport
	Swansea
	Wrexham.

Departmental Manpower

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many speechwriters her Department employs at each pay grade.

Damian Green: The Home Office employs one speechwriter at Grade 7 level. No other speechwriters are employed by the Home Office.

Departmental Redundancy Pay

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much redundancy pay was paid to civil servants in her Department in each month between September and November 2011.

Damian Green: This information in the form requested is not available.
	During the period in question, £877,000 was charged to the Home Department in relation to voluntary redundancies. This figure includes both payments made to individuals and payments made into the pension fund to enable qualifying staff access to their current accrued pension.

Deportation

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to ensure that once an overstayer is brought to the attention of the UK Border Agency, actions are put in place to update their records and instigate deportation.

Damian Green: The procedures the UK Border Agency has in place for dealing with all categories of immigration offenders, including overstayers, are set out in the Enforcement Instructions and Guidance (EIG) manual available to view on the UK Border Agency website at:
	http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/guidance/enforcement/
	Overstayers are normally liable to administrative removal rather than deportation, and chapters 50 and 51 explain the process for serving notices on such offenders and their removal.
	Cases are considered on an individual basis. When, however, an overstayer comes to attention, he would generally be served with a notice that explains his liability to removal from the UK. Consideration would also be given as to whether detention is appropriate. Where detention is not appropriate that person will be placed on reporting restrictions. Information is recorded on the UK Border Agency Case Information Database. Cases are progressed to removal by the UK Border Agency, who will manage any barriers to removal.

EU Law

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which EU (a) directives, (b) regulations and (c) other legislation affecting her Department require transposition into UK law; and what estimate she has made of the cost to (i) the public purse and (ii) the private sector of such measures.

Damian Green: The following EU regulations and directives required transposition into UK law:
	Council Regulation, (EC) No. 380/2008 of 18 April 2008 amends Regulation (EC) No. 1030/2002 which lays down a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals.
	Directives 2011/36/EU—Of the European Parliament and of the Council on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims, replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA.
	Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes.
	In addition, an order under S2(2) of European Communities Act 1972 is required to ensure that the Equality Act 2010 is, like its predecessor legislation, fully compliant with the following directives in respect of protection from victimisation following a relationship:
	Directive 2000/43 (Race).
	Directive 2006/54 (Recast Directive on equal treatment for men and women in employment and occupation).
	Directive 2004/113 (equal treatment for men and women in the provision of goods, facilities and services.
	Directive 2000/78 (Framework Directive on equal treatment in employment and occupation irrespective of age, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation).
	There is also a body of EU legislation in the area of police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters, adopted prior to the entry into force of the Lisbon treaty, against which the Government are currently reviewing transposition obligations. These measures will acquire full European Court of Justice jurisdiction in 2014. The UK must decide whether to accept such jurisdiction or withdraw from the measures.
	The Government are increasingly using impact assessments and associated control mechanisms (including a new Cabinet Committee and external scrutiny body) to control the costs of policy proposals. Specific emphasis is also being placed on avoiding “gold-plating” when transposing EU measures and the Government are alert to the need to “push back” on EU proposals which may have an adverse economic effect. Details of projected costs arising from the transposition of the biometric residence permit regulation, the human trafficking directive and the directive on the protection of animals for scientific purposes can be found in the respective impact assessments, which are publicly available.
	With regard to plans for further UK legislation to ensure that the Equality Act 2010 is fully compliant with EU law, the Government intend to lay an Order in the House in due course. An impact assessment will accompany the Order, setting out any estimated compliance cost on businesses and public authorities.

Extradition: Republic of Ireland

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many extradition requests the UK has made to the Republic of Ireland in relation to alleged scheduled terrorist offences in each year from 1980 to 1998; and how many such requests were (a) declined and (b) approved by the Republic of Ireland.

Damian Green: This information is not held centrally. Prior to 1 January 2004, when the European arrest warrant came into force, extradition between the UK and the Republic of Ireland was governed by the Backing of Warrants (Republic of Ireland) Act 1965. The Act operated on a police-to-police basis and, as such there was no Home Office involvement. However, Home Office officials have examined historical records and consulted with colleagues in the Northern Ireland Office and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and between 1980 and 1998, at least 65 requests were made to the Republic of Ireland from the UK (excluding Scotland). At least 17 people were arrested, and six were extradited back to the UK. The extant records do not reveal whether any of these requests were formally declined.

Extradition: Republic of Ireland

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many extradition requests the UK has made to the Republic of Ireland in relation to alleged scheduled terrorist offences from 1999 to 2010; and how many such extradition requests were declined by the Republic of Ireland.

Damian Green: The information for the period 1999 to 2003 is not held centrally. Prior to 1 January 2004, when the European arrest warrant (EAW) came into force, extradition between the UK and the Republic of Ireland was governed by the Backing of Warrants (Republic of Ireland) Act 1965. The Act operated on a police-to-police basis and, as such there was no Home Office involvement. However, Home Office officials have examined historical records and consulted with colleagues in the Northern Ireland Office and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and between 1999 and 2003 there are no records of such requests being made or declined.
	The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for Scotland are the designated UK authorities responsible for processing European arrest warrants (EAWs). Information is held on Part 1 cases (persons wanted from the UK by another member state) and Part 3 cases (persons wanted by the UK from another member state).
	Information on the number of Part 3 requests made under an EAW by offence type is only available from April 2009 due to a change in the way data were recorded from this date. For cases before this date, a manual examination of files would have to take place. This would incur disproportionate cost.
	Since April 2009 there have been no Part 3 requests made to the Republic of Ireland where the principal offence is given as terrorism.

Firearms: Licensing

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are licensed to own firearms in each parliamentary constituency.

Nick Herbert: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Firearm certificates information by police force area can be found in Firearm Certificates in England and Wales 2009-10, available in the Library of the House and the Home Office Science website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics
	The next publication containing data for 2010-11 is scheduled to be published in March 2012.

Human Trafficking

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which region each suspected victim of human trafficking referred to the Trafficking Victim Support Scheme run by the Salvation Army in (a) September and (b) October 2011 was found; what their nationality was; and which agency or charity referred each case to the scheme.

Crispin Blunt: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Justice.
	The following tables set out the information requested.
	
		
			 (a) Referrals received in September 2011 
			 Nationality Region Referring organisation 
			 Lesotho South East Charity 
			 Lithuanian South East Charity 
			 Romanian West Midlands NHS 
			 Romanian South East NHS 
			 Polish Yorkshire Charity 
			 Slovakian South West Social services 
			 Slovakian North West Police 
			 Romanian South East Charity 
			 Nigerian South East Prison service 
			 Slovakian Yorkshire Charity 
			 Slovakian Yorkshire Charity 
			 UK East Police 
			 UK East Police 
			 Polish East Police 
			 Polish East Police 
			 UK East Police 
			 Polish East Police 
			 UK East Police 
			 Latvian East Police 
			 Polish East Police 
			 UK East Police 
			 UK East Police 
			 Lithuanian East Police 
			 UK East Police 
		
	
	
		
			 UK East Police 
			 UK East Police 
			 Nigerian South East Prison service 
			 Nigerian South East Police 
			 Slovakian Yorkshire Charity 
			 Slovakian Yorkshire Charity 
			 Slovakian Yorkshire Charity 
			 Polish Yorkshire Social services 
			 Czech Yorkshire Charity 
			 Czech South East Self-referral 
			 Polish Yorkshire Charity 
			 Polish Yorkshire Charity 
			 Hungarian South East Police 
			 Hungarian South East Police 
			 Hungarian South East Police 
			 Hungarian South East Police 
			 Czech West Midlands Police 
			 Slovakian South East Police 
			 Romanian South East Police 
			 Nigerian South East Police 
			 Nigerian Wales Legal representative 
			 Romanian West Midlands NHS 
			 Romanian West Midlands NHS 
			 Chinese South West Charity 
			 Romanian West Midlands Police 
			 Vietnamese South East Legal representative 
			 Ghanaian South East Charity 
			 Slovakian Yorkshire Charity 
			 Nigerian Yorkshire Charity 
			 Nigerian Yorkshire Charity 
			 Sri Lankan South East Charity 
			 Romanian South East Police 
			 Chinese South East UK Human Trafficking Centre 
		
	
	
		
			 (b) Referrals received in October 2011 
			 Nationality Region Referring organisation 
			 Nigerian East UK Border Agency 
			 Latvian South West Police 
			 Slovakian Yorkshire Police 
			 Nigerian East Charity 
			 Bangladeshi South East Charity 
			 Chinese East Police 
			 Hungarian East Midlands Police 
			 Polish Yorkshire Charity 
			 Chinese South East Charity 
			 Latvian North West Police 
			 Latvian North West Police 
			 Albanian South East Social services 
			 Romanian South East Charity 
			 South African South East NHS 
			 Nigerian South East Charity 
			 St Lucian South East Police 
			 Jamaican South East Social services 
			 Ugandan South East Police 
			 Ghanaian South East Charity 
			 Guinean Yorkshire Charity 
			 Ugandan Wales UK Border Agency 
			 Vietnamese North West Legal representative 
			 Romanian South East Police 
			 Slovakian Yorkshire Charity 
			 Romanian South East Social services 
			 Romanian South East Social services 
			 Romanian South East Social services 
		
	
	
		
			 Albanian South West UK Human Trafficking Centre 
			 Guinean South East UK Border Agency 
			 Slovakian South East Charity

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 24 November 2011 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr S. A. Sadoon.

Damian Green: I refer the right hon. Member to my letter of 16 January 2012.

Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the UK Border Agency paid the National Offender Management Service for the service level agreement to operate the Morton Hall immigration removal centre.

Damian Green: Morton Hall immigration removal centre is run by the National Offender Management Service on behalf of the UK Border Agency.
	UK Border Agency will pay £10,680,000 to the National Offender Management Service in 2011-12 under the service level agreement for the running of Morton Hall immigration removal centre. The UK Border Agency will also pay £491,244 to the National Offender Management Service in 2011-12 for the start-up costs.

Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to the public purse of refurbishing Morton Hall was prior to it being operated as an immigration removal centre.

Damian Green: The cost of refurbishing Morton Hall for use as an immigration removal centre was £5.76 million. This figure includes all IT provision, fixtures and fittings, additional security works, fees and consultancy, as well as building and upgrade works.

Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees at the Morton Hall immigration removal centre have been transferred to (a) a different location and (b) a prison as a result of disciplinary matters.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency aims to keep the number of transfers between its places of detention to a minimum. Inevitably, there are occasions when detainees are moved for a variety of reasons. These may be because their behaviour requires them to be held in a more secure environment, because they are required for an interview at a particular centre or because they are being moved close to an airport for their removal from the UK.
	The reasons for moving detainees are not recorded centrally and would require examination of each individual record in order to provide the answer, which would be at disproportionate cost.

Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to the public purse of providing taxi services for visitors to Morton Hall immigration removal centre was in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many such journeys have been paid for from the public purse.

Damian Green: All costs, including those related to the provision of taxi services for visitors at the Morton Hall immigration removal centre, are funded by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) from within the single annual service level agreement payment to the National Offender Management Service as the operator of the establishment. UKBA does not routinely request a breakdown of the elements of the service level agreement payment to the level of detail requested. Such analysis could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to the public purse was of the educational and recreational activities provided to detainees at Morton Hall immigration removal centre in the latest period for which figures are available.

Damian Green: All costs, including those related to educational and recreational activities provided to detainees at the Morton Hall immigration removal centre, are funded by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) from within the single annual service level agreement payment to the National Offender Management Service as the operator of the establishment. UKBA does not routinely request a breakdown of the elements of the service level agreement payment to the level of detail requested. Such analysis could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been detained at Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre since it opened; and how many such people have subsequently left the UK.

Damian Green: The requested information is not available. There were 456 people entering detention, solely under Immigration Act powers at Morton Hall from 16 May 2011 (the date Morton Hall opened) to 30 September 2011, the latest date for which information has been published. These figures are of people who have entered Morton Hall as the first place of detention and exclude people transferred into Morton Hall from other immigration removal centres.
	Morton Hall was the last place of detention for 155 people who left immigration detention between 16 May and 30 September 2011, the latest date for which information has been published. Of these, 39 have subsequently been removed. These figures exclude people who have been transferred to other immigration removal centres before leaving detention. Data on all persons who have left Morton Hall and have subsequently been removed are not available.
	The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of people entering and leaving detention, held solely under Immigration Act powers. Q4 2011 detention figures will be published on 23 February 2012 and will be available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Science, Research and Statistics web pages at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/

Offenders: Mental Illness

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2011, Official Report, columns 1044-6W, on mental health: patients, how many of those released after having been detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 have been convicted of a crime in each of the last three years.

Crispin Blunt: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Justice.
	Just over 1,700 restricted patients were discharged for the first time by the Mental Health Review Tribunal or with the consent of the then Secretary of State between 1999 and 2007. Of these, 1,550 offenders were found on the Police National Computer (PNC) data held by the Ministry of Justice, and 5.8% of these were found to have been reconvicted within two years of their discharge.
	These figures are the latest available, and are taken from paper 3.1 in the Compendium of reoffending statistics and analysis, published on 4 November 2010.
	The yearly breakdowns have been combined because in any single year the number of patients discharged for the first time and who went on to be reconvicted is too small for robust analysis. Caution should be exercised when interpreting the reconviction figures provided, which represent only those patients first discharged and matched on the Police National Computer and therefore do not capture all patients discharged into the community in a given year or take into account recalls.
	This answer is limited to re-offending by restricted patients, data on re-offending by other patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (civil patients and patients subject to an unrestricted hospital order) is not collated centrally.

Police: Manpower

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many CID officers there were in each police force (a) on 5 October 2010 and (b) in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Nick Herbert: These data are collected centrally at the end and midpoint of a financial year and are therefore unavailable specifically for 5 October 2010. The latest available information shows the number of police officers within CID and CID specialist crime unit functions (full-time equivalent), by police force area in England and Wales, as at 31 March 2011. Staff with multiple responsibilities are recorded under their primary role or function.
	
		
			 Police officer CID functions -(FTE) (2)  in England and Wales as at 31 March 2011 (3) 
			  CID (4) CID specialist crime units (5) 
			 Avon and Somerset 376 0 
			 Bedfordshire 180 50 
			 Cambridgeshire 207 45 
			 Cheshire 232 118 
			 Cleveland 190 0 
			 Cumbria 91 19 
			 Derbyshire 255 94 
			 Devon and Cornwall 472 0 
			 Dorset 115 45 
			 Durham 96 44 
			 Dyfed-Powys 89 6 
			 Essex 365 83 
			 Gloucestershire 128 0 
			 Greater Manchester 862 325 
			 Gwent 89 58 
			 Hampshire 331 106 
			 Hertfordshire 308 57 
			 Humberside 338 0 
			 Kent 428 75 
			 Lancashire 396 100 
			 Leicestershire 235 105 
			 Lincolnshire 128 3 
			 London, City of 98 0 
			 Merseyside 308 272 
			 Metropolitan Police 3,817 106 
			 Norfolk 203 28 
			 Northamptonshire 167 27 
			 Northumbria 384 98 
			 North Wales 114 45 
		
	
	
		
			 North Yorkshire 117 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 330 0 
			 South Wales 344 93 
			 South Yorkshire 357 141 
			 Staffordshire 283 48 
			 Suffolk 132 37 
			 Surrey 199 149 
			 Sussex 319 8 
			 Thames Valley 512 2 
			 Warwickshire 121 0 
			 West Mercia 242 61 
			 West Midlands 825 16 
			 West Yorkshire 292 252 
			 Wiltshire 124 5 
			 (1) Staff with multiple responsibilities (or designations) are recorded under their primary role or function. The deployment of police officers is an operational matter for individual chief constables. (2) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between the totals in this table and totals in similar published tables. (3) Data are correct as at 12 July 2011. (4) Definition of the CID function: Staff mainly employed in plain clothes or supporting those employed in plain clothes for the investigation of crime. Staff who predominantly investigate crime or support the investigation of crime and who are not shown under other specific squad headings. Does not include members of a squad set up on an ad hoc basis to deal with a temporary or local problem. These are included under their normal category. Includes officers formerly recorded as ‘CID aides/trainee investigators’, i.e. includes officers temporarily seconded to CID but not those on short attachments for familiarisation or assessment purposes. Includes staff who are predominantly employed on administrative, clerical or other support duties on behalf of general CID, asset confiscation, burglary, drugs, fraud, stolen vehicles, vice or other permanent CID squads. Includes those officers/staff in supporting roles. (5) Definition of the CID specialist units function: Includes any specialist squads or units, analysts or administrative assistants employed not specifically mentioned elsewhere, e.g. robbery, major crime units.

Prisoners: Repatriation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much her Department spent on grants under the Facilitated Returns Scheme in each year since 2006;
	(2)  how much her Department spent on administering the Facilitated Returns Scheme in each year since 2006.

Damian Green: In her letter of 4 February 2010, Lin Homer, the former chief executive of the UK Border Agency, informed the Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) that the cost of running the Facilitated Return Scheme from inception in October 2006 to March 2009 was approximately £4.3 million. A further letter to the HASC of 9 December 2010, advised that the cost of the Facilitated Return Scheme in 2009-10 was £7.1 million (inclusive of £2.3 million of EU funding). The cost of the Facilitated Return Scheme for 2010-11 was £13 million (inclusive of EU funding of £2.7 million).

Prisoners: Repatriation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals have been awarded grants under the Facilitated Grants Scheme in each year since 2006; and to which countries they were returned.

Damian Green: The top six countries taking up the Facilitated Return Scheme are Vietnam, Nigeria, China, Jamaica, India and Pakistan.
	Information on the number of foreign nationals awarded grants under the Facilitated Return Scheme since 2006 and the countries to which they were deported is not held centrally and collation would incur a review of individual files at a disproportionate cost. However, the overall percentage of those removed under the Facilitated Return Scheme from 2007-10 are as follows:
	In 2007: FRS accounted for around 30% of removals—4,200
	In 2008: FRS accounted for around 30% of removals—5,395
	In 2009: FRS accounted for around 30% of removals—5,530
	In 2010: FRS accounted for around 50% of removals—5,342

Prisoners: Repatriation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the 20 largest sums paid to individuals under the Facilitated Returns Scheme have been in each year since 2006;
	(2)  how many individuals awarded grants under the Facilitated Returns Scheme there were (a) who did not leave the UK and (b) whose location is unknown in each year since 2006.

Damian Green: Information on the sums paid to individuals under the Facilitated Return Scheme since 2006 is not held centrally and would incur a review of individual files at a disproportionate cost. The largest amount offered under the Facilitated Return Scheme was £5,000 but the offer of this amount ceased on 1 October 2010 for new applications. The largest amount now available is £1,500. No individual will have received amounts in excess of these figures.
	Funds are only given at the point of departure so that individuals who do not leave are not able to access grants under the Facilitated Return Scheme if they fail to leave the UK.

Prisoners: Repatriation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many individuals awarded grants under the Facilitated Returns Scheme have subsequently returned to the UK;
	(2)  how many individuals have been awarded more than one grant under the Facilitated Returns Scheme in each year since 2006.

Damian Green: All individuals who meet the deportation criteria and leave the UK under the Facilitated Returns Scheme are fingerprinted. They are placed on Watch Lists in order to prevent them from returning to the UK after removal. Information is not centrally held of those who may circumvent the immigration controls and return clandestinely or use other identities to gain entry UK. This would incur review of individual files at a disproportionate cost.
	A foreign national is not able to benefit from the Facilitated Returns Scheme on more than one occasion.

Proceeds of Crime Act 2000

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many orders were (a) applied for and (b) granted under the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in each of the last five years; and how many of these were sought in cases of over-fishing.

Nick Herbert: The total number of orders granted under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for the last five years was 26,065, with a combined value of £1.2 billion. The information held centrally is based on the value of all crimes and it is not possible to break down the figures to the detail sought.

Proceeds of Crime Act 2000

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much revenue was received under the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 from cases of over-fishing in each region in each of the last five years.

Nick Herbert: This information is not held centrally.

Prostitution: Greater London

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many brothel closures there have been as a result of intervention by police public protection teams in each London borough in each month since January 2010.

Damian Green: This information is not held centrally.

Scrap Metal: North East

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to assess the pilot project in the North East requiring identification from vendors of scrap metal.

Damian Green: Operation Tornado, the pilot project that was launched on 6 January 2012, will run for six months. The British Transport police will provide the Home Office with regular assessments during the course of the project.

Sexual Offences: Travel Restrictions

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many child sex offenders have had their passports withheld since the Policing and Crime Act 2009 came into force; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the use of worldwide travel orders for child sex offenders; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in preventing child sex offenders from travelling abroad.

Lynne Featherstone: Under section 25 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 (which came into force in April 2010) only those offenders subject to a worldwide foreign travel order (FTO) can be required to surrender their passport. A search of the ViSOR database (a UK-wide system, managed by the National Policing Improvement Agency, which is used to store and share information and manage those individuals who have been identified as posing a risk of serious harm to the public) has shown that there are fewer than five offenders who have been required to do this.
	Decisions on whether to apply to the magistrates court for an FTO are an operational matter for the police, where they consider there to be a risk of harm to children overseas.
	The Policing and Crime Act 2009 introduced amendments to increase the protection offered by Foreign Travel Orders, including:
	increasing the duration an order can be issued for from six months to five years;
	increasing the age threshold of a child who must be at risk before a FTO is made from 16 to 18 years old; and
	automatically removing passports from individuals who are subject to a blanket FTO banning them from travelling abroad to any country in the world.
	We continue to keep the available tools and powers in this area under review and the Government are doing everything we can to tighten the law on sex offenders and protect the public both in the UK and abroad.
	That is why we have recently consulted on strengthening notification requirements for registered sex offenders still further, including making it compulsory for registered sex offenders to notify the police of all foreign travel (currently only travel of three days or more is notified). We will be making an announcement on the outcome of this consultation shortly.

Specialist Crime Division 9

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the future of Specialist Crime Division 9 after the London 2012 London Olympics.

Nick Herbert: As a unit within the Metropolitan police, any plans for the future of Specialist Crime Division 9 are the responsibility of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

Theft: Metals

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions her Department has had with the British Metals Recycling Association on stricter self-regulation of scrap metal dealing.

Damian Green: The Home Office has regular discussions with the British Metals Recycling Association on action that their members can take to make self-regulation more effective. This resulted, for example, in the implementation of a new code of conduct in 2010. The Government are now considering whether tackling the problem of metal theft is likely to require new legislation.

Theft: Metals

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effect of permitting cash-based transactions on the detection of scrap metal thieves.

Damian Green: The ease with which criminals can sell metal for cash with little prospect of being detected is a powerful driver behind metal theft. The Government are currently considering a range of legislative options to deal with the growing problem of metal theft, including whether cash payments for scrap metal should be prohibited.

Theft: Metals

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals she plans to bring forward to amend existing legislation on the sale and disposal of scrap metal in order to prevent metal theft.

Damian Green: Discussions are under way across Government to agree the legislative changes needed to tackle metal theft. We will announce our proposals shortly.

Theft: Metals

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional resources she is considering making available to the British Transport police following the recent increase in metal theft involving railway cable.

Damian Green: The Government are committing £5 million to establish a dedicated metal theft taskforce, as set out in the National Infrastructure Plan. The taskforce will be coordinated by the British Transport police.

Theft: Metals

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to (a) regulate and (b) close illegal scrap metal dealing yards.

Damian Green: The Government are currently considering a range of legislative options to deal with the growing problem of metal theft, including a more robust licensing regime for scrap metal dealers. Work is also under way by law enforcement organisations, including through a new, dedicated metal theft taskforce, to identify scrap metal yards which are operating illegally and take the appropriate action.

Theft: Metals

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to discuss with the Secretary of State for Justice increases in the penalties for scrap metal theft and illegal dealing in scrap metal.

Damian Green: The Government are currently considering a range of legislative options to deal with the growing problem of metal theft, including what changes could be made to the sentencing options available for convicted metal theft offenders.

Theft: Metals

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with (a) local authorities and (b) the Local Government Association on strengthening co-ordinated action by trading standards officers against illegal scrap metal dealing.

Damian Green: Home Office officials are discussing the role of local authorities in tackling metal theft with the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Local Government Association and with local authorities directly.

Theft: Natural Gas

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effects on local communities of the theft of gas cylinders; and what steps she plans to take to reduce the incidence of such theft.

Damian Green: The theft of gas cylinders for their scrap value is a growing problem. The Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers are working with UKLPG, the trade association for the Liquid Petroleum Gas industry, and the scrap metal industry to highlight the serious risks associated with handling cylinders that contain flammable gas, and to promote legitimate disposal routes. The Government are also reviewing the legislation governing the scrap metal industry in order to restrict the market for stolen metal.

Third Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding her Department provided to (a) Action on Addiction, (b) Adoption UK, (c) the Adoption and Fostering Information Line, (d) the Child Bereavement Charity, (e) Well Child and (f) each of East Anglia’s children’s hospices in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: holding answer 16 January 2012
	The Home Department has not provided funding to any of the listed organisations over the last two financial years.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Biofuels

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will consider the recommendation by the Committee on Climate Change in its Bioenergy Review that his Department's Bioenergy Strategy includes an assessment of the global wood industry; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: Yes. The cross-Government UK bioenergy strategy is examining three main issues:
	the availability of sustainably-sourced feedstocks to 2020 and beyond;
	the potential impacts (economic and carbon) of using biomass in the energy sector including for alternative uses such as by the wood industry; and
	the most appropriate uses of biomass feedstocks in the energy sector (electricity, heat and transport) to 2020 and beyond taking into account wider Government objectives such as cost-effectiveness, carbon abatement potential, renewables targets and security of supply.

Biofuels

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what effect will the recommendation by the Committee on Climate Change that the use of woody biomass in construction should be a priority have on his Department's Bioenergy Strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: The cross-Government UK bio-energy strategy will be responding to the recommendations of the Committee on Climate Change's bioenergy review and is due for publication in the spring.

Biomass: Scotland

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will assess the relevance to his Department's policies of the recommendations in the report commissioned by the Forestry Commission Scotland and the Scottish Government on supporting biomass electricity in the Renewables Obligation (Scotland); and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: The consultation on the renewables obligation (RO), the main support mechanism for large-scale renewable electricity generation in England and Wales, closed on 12 January. We are considering all consultation responses and relevant information, including the biomass electricity report recently prepared for Scotland and cross-Government work to develop a UK bioenergy strategy, to ensure that RO support levels deliver value for money for consumer spend on energy and across the bioeconomy more widely.

Coal Fired Power Stations

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which coal-fired power stations he expects to close as a result of the EU large combustion plant directive; and what estimate he has made of the number of remaining running hours for each such plant.

Charles Hendry: Details of the coal-fired power stations closing under the large combustion plant directive and their remaining running hours are publically available on the NETA/Elexon website at:
	http://www.bmreports.com/bsp/bsp_home.htm
	(see ‘General’—‘Further Market Data’—‘Large Combustion Plant Directive’).
	The following table shows the coal-fired stations that will close under the EU large combustion plant directive, along with the running hours remaining for each plant, as at the end of November 2011.
	
		
			 Plant Hours remaining (as at end-November 2011) 
			 Cockenzie Units 1 and 2 3,134 
			 Cockenzie Units 3 and 4 4,156 
			 Didcot A 9,119 
			 Ferrybridge (1 and 2) 8,955 
			 Ironbridge 11,607 
			 Kingsnorth 5,231 
			 Tilbury (7 and 8) 7,834 
			 Tilbury (9 and 10) 7,446 
			 Total 57,482

Coal Fired Power Stations

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which coal-fired power plants need to be decommissioned to meet the UK's obligations under the Large Combustion Directive; and when such power plants are likely to be taken out of service.

Charles Hendry: Details of the coal-fired power stations closing under the large combustion plant directive and their remaining running hours are publically available on the NETA/Elexon website:
	http://www.bmreports.com/bsp/bsp_home.htm
	(see 'General'—'Further Market Data'—'Large Combustion Plant Directive').
	The following table shows the coal-fired stations that will close under the EU large combustion plant directive, along with the running hours remaining for each plant, as at the end of November 2011.
	
		
			 Plant Hours remaining (as at end November 2011) 
			 Cockenzie Units 1 and 2 3,134 
			 Cockenzie Units 3 and 4 4,156 
			 Didcot A 9,119 
			 Ferrybridge (1 and 2) 8,955 
			 Ironbridge 11,607 
			 Kingsnorth 5,231 
			 Tilbury (7 and 8) 7,834 
			 Tilbury (9 and 10) 7,446 
			 Total 57,482 
		
	
	The operation and closure of coal-fired power stations (including the use of their remaining running hours) under the EU large combustion plant directive is a commercial decision for generators.

Departmental Apprentice

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding his Department allocated to sponsor apprenticeships in his Department in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and how much such funding he plans to allocate in 2012-13.

Gregory Barker: Fourteen staff with payroll costs of £320,000 undertook apprenticeships in the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in 2010-11. No specific budget was set aside for apprentices as a group. The pay and pension entitlement received by apprentices is influenced by the apprentice's age.
	Pay costs of DECC apprentices in 2011-12 were £345,000. No specific budget was set aside for apprentices, as a group.
	No specific budget has been set aside in 2012-13. Expenditure will depend on the number of suitable vacancies arising within the Department.

Departmental Pay

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much was paid to officials in his Department and its non-departmental public bodies in (a) bonuses, (b) allowances and (c) other payments additional to basic salary in each of the last two years for which figures are available; what categories of payment may be made to officials in addition to basic salary; what the monetary value is of each category of payment; and what the monetary value was of the 20 largest such payments made in each of the last two years.

Gregory Barker: The Department and its non-departmental public bodies use non-consolidated performance-related payments to help drive high performance in the organisations as they:
	1. encourage continuous high attainment because the payments are dependent upon continuing strong performance
	2. prevent a permanent rise in salary and an increase in pension on the basis of one-off performances while still allowing good performance to be rewarded
	3. have no long-term costs, in particular it does not increase future pension payments
	4. focus the work of employees more directly on the priority goals of the organisation
	5. motivate employees by linking an element of compensation to the achievement of objectives rather than offering payment for time served
	6. target money at those who make the biggest contribution.
	Details of the payments the Department of Energy and Climate Change and its non-departmental bodies have made in each of the respective years have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Energy: Billing

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions his Department has had with energy companies on ways to simplify the design of energy bills.

Charles Hendry: DECC Ministers and officials meet energy companies on a regular basis to discuss a range of market issues.
	Ofgem recently published proposals as part of their Retail Market Review relating to the design and content of energy bills.
	In addition, Ofgem have issued an open letter in which they set out their ongoing work to simplify and reduce the regulatory burden where this is consistent with protecting the interests of consumers. They also seek the views of stakeholders on this, including ideas to improve the clarity of information provided by suppliers to their customers.
	Details of this open letter are available online at:
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/About%20us/BetterReg/Documents1/Ofgems%20approach%20to%20removing% 20unnecessary%20burdens.pdf

Energy: Conservation

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects updated Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 guidance to be published.

Gregory Barker: The Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA) requires local authorities (LAs) with housing responsibilities to report on action to improve the energy efficiency in their residential accommodation. The Green Deal will fundamentally alter the landscape against which LAs will fulfil this requirement.
	LAs are currently considering the Green Deal proposals, which were published for consultation on 23 November, and what this means for their plans for energy efficiency locally. With this in mind we therefore propose to issue new HECA guidance in spring 2012.
	We are currently considering the future scope of guidance under HECA and will develop proposals in partnership with local government in the context of DECC's Memorandum of Understanding with the Local Government Association.

Energy: Fracking

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his Department's latest estimate is of the reserves of shale gas in the UK; what his Department's policy is on the extraction of shale gas; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: A British Geological Survey study in 2010 estimated that if UK shales were similarly productive to those in the USA they could yield some 150 billion cubic metres of gas, equivalent to roughly two years' of UK demand.
	The BGS is currently undertaking more detailed work on the extent of the underlying resource which will also take into account last year's drilling results of Cuadrilla in Lancashire.
	However, little drilling has yet taken place and commercial production of shale gas has not been proven in the UK, so it is not yet possible to make a reliable estimate of recoverable reserves.
	As with conventional oil and gas activity, if there does prove to be commercially producible quantities of UK shale gas, the Government would support industry in tapping in such resources, so long as such exploitation proves to be technically and economically viable, and can be carried out with full regard to the protection of the environment.

Energy: Older People

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect of the cost of fuel on the well-being of older people; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: DECC is committed to helping people, especially low-income vulnerable households, heat their homes more affordably. This winter we are working with energy suppliers to deliver the Warm Home Discount scheme; we are also providing heating and insulation measures through Warm Front; and developing our proposals for Green Deal and the energy company obligation.
	In addition, we are working closely with the Department of Health on their Cold Weather Plan, which aims to avoid the adverse health effects of winter by raising public awareness and triggering actions by those in contact with people most at risk.

Energy: Prices

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much the cost of energy generated from (a) gas and (b) electricity has changed over the last (i) year and (ii) 10 years.

Charles Hendry: DECC publishes a wide range of energy price statistics relating to market transactions. These are published in Quarterly Energy Prices:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/publications/prices/prices.aspx
	A copy of this is also available in the Libraries of the House.
	The Department does not however, record costs of all aspects of energy generation.

Energy: Prices

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with energy companies on the cost of energy; where and when any such discussions took place; and whether he received any assurances from the energy companies that they would cut energy prices.

Charles Hendry: DECC Ministers and officials meet energy companies on a regular basis to discuss a range of market issues.
	I welcome that EDF, British Gas, SSE, Npower, E.ON, and Scottish Power have joined small suppliers Co-op and Ovo by recently announcing cuts to domestic energy bills.

Energy: Prices

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of spending on (a) gas and (b) electricity by households in each household income decile in the latest year for which figures are available.

Charles Hendry: The data requested are available from the Living Costs and Food Survey, carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The Family Spending publication summarises data from this survey, and provides data (in table A6) on household expenditure on gas and electricity by gross income decile group. The latest year that data are available for is 2010:
	
		
			  Average weekly household expenditure (£) 
			 Gross income decile group (a) Gas (b) Electricity 
			 1 (lowest 10%) 6.00 6.80 
			 2 7.40 8.20 
			 3 8.00 8.90 
			 4 8.60 8.80 
			 5 9.20 9.70 
			 6 10.20 10.10 
			 7 9.80 10.50 
			 8 11.00 10.20 
			 9 12.50 11.50 
			 10 (highest 10%) 13.80 14.70

Fossil Fuels

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to include the issue of global fossil fuel subsidy reform on the agenda of the Clean Energy Ministerial 2012.

Charles Hendry: International fossil fuel subsidy reform has the potential to lead to significant reductions in global demand for hydrocarbons and carbon emissions. The UK has strongly supported the G20 initiative to rationalise and phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that promote wasteful consumption and will continue to work through the G20 to seek progress on these issues.
	We believe it is important that international action in this area is not confused by duplication and so do not believe that it is appropriate for the issue to be specifically on the Clean Energy Ministerial agenda. However, this does not rule out the issue arising in the discussions that we are expecting at the meeting.

Power Failures

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the effect of voltage fluctuations on household (a) energy consumption and (b) electrical devices.

Charles Hendry: DECC has not undertaken an assessment of the effect of voltage fluctuations on household energy consumption or electrical devices.

Power Failures

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the effect of voltage optimisation devices on household energy consumption.

Charles Hendry: Electricity networks are designed to operate within a range of voltage fluctuations. Voltage optimisation devices operate by smoothing out these fluctuations so that the consumer can receive electricity at a constant voltage. There have been claims by industry that these devices can help households save electricity. DECC has not undertaken an assessment of the effect these devices have on household energy consumption. However, a trial of one such device undertaken as part of the carbon emissions reduction target (CERT) scheme, which is administered by Ofgem, demonstrated savings in electricity use.

Renewable Energy

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the likely effects on consumers' bills of the growth of renewable electricity generation as set out in his Department's route map for renewables.

Charles Hendry: In November 2011 we published the estimated impact of energy and climate change policies on average household energy bills in the year 2020. This estimates that the renewables obligation (supporting large-scale renewable electricity) would add £48 to an average annual domestic bill and feed-in tariffs (for small-scale renewable energy generation) would add £6(1).
	On 23 November 2011, alongside the Annual Energy Statement, DECC published an assessment of the cumulative impact of climate change and energy polices on energy prices and bills in 2011, 2020 and 2030, available online at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/aes/impacts/inipacts.aspx
	Our assessment indicated that the average household energy bill in 2020 was estimated to be around 7% lower than it would have been in the same year if energy and climate change policies were not introduced. This result is based on DECC's fossil fuel price scenario consistent with a wholesale gas price of 68p/th in 2020 (in real 2010 prices).
	(1) ( )It should be noted that these estimates will be updated as part of the Government response to the FITs comprehensive review and the RO banding review.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the total expenditure on the feed-in tariff was in each of the last four quarters for which figures are available.

Gregory Barker: The total expenditure on the feed-in tariff scheme in each of the last four quarters are shown in the following table. These figures include both generation and export payments (deemed and metered).
	
		
			 Quarter Total expenditure on feed-in tariffs (£) 
			 October to December 2010 3,519,463 
			 January to March 2011 4,589,371 
			 April to June 2011 10,101,593 
			 July to September 2011 24,576,702 
			 Source: Ofgem, Levelisation report: http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/Environment/fits/Levelisation/Pages/Levelisation.aspx 
		
	
	The eligibility date marks the start of the period during which installations are eligible to receive FITs payments. Tariffs will be paid for a set period of time depending on the technology installed (e.g. 25 years for solar PV), and the total expenditure for each quarter includes payments made to all installations, including those installed in previous quarters. Data are published by Ofgem approximately three months after the start of the previous levelisation process.

River Severn: Tidal Power

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what meetings he has had to discuss the potential development of the Severn Barrage; and what matters were discussed;
	(2)  what plans he has for future development of the Severn Barrage; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: All meetings between external organisations and DECC Ministers are published quarterly on the DECC website at the following link:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/registers/registers.aspx
	A private sector consortium seeking to develop a tidal barrage on the Severn estuary has recently submitted a draft business plan to Government and, following discussions with officials, is providing further information on a number of issues.

Solar Power

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the number of households likely to have solar PV in (a) 2015 and (b) 2020.

Gregory Barker: Estimates of future solar PV growth are extremely uncertain. DECC is currently reviewing its estimates in the light of responses to the current consultation on PV tariffs as well as other recent changes in the market, and will provide updated assessments for the final impact assessment published alongside the post-consultation policy response.

Solar Power

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households have installed (a) solar PV and (b) solar water heating.

Gregory Barker: The latest monthly published statistics show that at the end of December 2011, the number of solar PV schemes (of sub 50kW capacity) installed on the Microgeneration Certificate Scheme database (MCS) were 230,467. Of these, 61% (141,033) have been confirmed on Ofgem's Central FiT Register (CFR).
	In addition, there were 3,534 solar PVs scheme confirmed installations on the CFR but not registered on the MCS database at the end of December 2011. These installations are not registered on the MCS database since the installation capacity is greater than 50kW.
	DECC do not currently hold any statistics on solar water heating.

Solar Power

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of energy production will come from solar energy in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013.

Gregory Barker: The estimated proportion of total electricity and energy demand in 2012-13 and 2013-14 that will be met by solar photovoltaic (PV) is set out in the following table. Solar PV output projections are based on the lead option (central scenario) from the impact assessment supporting the consultation on feed-in tariffs for solar PV, updated to reflect installations data until the end of October 2011. Demand forecasts are based on DECC Updated Energy Projections:
	
		
			  2012-13 2013-14 
			 Output from solar PV, central scenario (GWh) 760 850 
			 Total electricity demand(1) (TWh) 358 357 
			 Total energy demand(1) (TWh) 2,528 2,511 
			    
			 Solar output as percentage of total electricity demand 0.21 0.24 
			 Solar output as percentage of total energy demand 0.03 0.03 
			 Sources: 1. DECC, Updated Energy Projections October 2011, Annex E. 2. DECC, Updated Energy Projections October 2011, Annex H. See: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/about/ec_social_res/analytic_projs/en_emis_projs/en_emis_projs.aspx

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) pensioner and (b) non-pensioner households have received assistance from (i) EDF Energy, (ii) Atlantic, (iii) British Gas, (iv) SWALEC, (v) E.ON, (vi) npower, (vii) Scottish Hydro, (viii) Scottish Power, (ix) Southern Electric and (x) SSE under the Warm Homes Discount Scheme; and what the average level of assistance was per household.

Gregory Barker: 2011-12 is the first year of the Warm Home Discount Scheme. A report will be published following the end of this scheme year detailing supplier expenditure in 2011-12 for the core and non-core elements of the scheme. In total suppliers will provide support worth up to £250 million in 2011-12 and assist around two million low income and vulnerable households. This will include the provision of Core Group discounts of £120 to over 600,000 pensioners in receipt of pension credit guarantee credit only. The level of contribution suppliers should provide is proportionate to their market share.

Warm Home Discount Scheme: Mobile Homes

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to ensure park home owners receive a warm home discount payment.

Gregory Barker: The Warm Home Discount scheme requires participating energy suppliers to provide assistance to their low income, vulnerable consumers directly through discounts on their energy bill from their energy supplier. In order to benefit from the scheme, customers, or their partner, must be named on the electricity account with a participating energy supplier. Therefore, discounts under the Warm Home Discount scheme would be available to those living in park homes who do have electricity accounts in their own name. Assistance would not be available to those who do not have their own electricity account with an energy supplier, for example those who pay for their energy through their rent.
	This issue was considered during the consultation process for the Warm Home Discount Scheme which was published on 28 February 2010 and is available at:
	www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Consultations/warm-home-discount/1307-gov-response-warm-homes-disc-cons.pdf

Wind Power

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  how much was paid to wind farm companies in (a) Wales and (b) Great Britain through constraint payments in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011;
	(2)  which energy companies supplying energy from wind farms in the UK received constraint payments in 2011;
	(3)  which (a) British and (b) non-British based energy companies received constraint payments in 2011.

Charles Hendry: A routine part of National Grid's role is to balance electricity supply and demand. It undertakes a number of activities to achieve this, including making constraint payments to generators through the balancing mechanism. The number and relative value of constraint payments made to wind farms is small compared to overall constraint payments made to generators of all types:
	(a) No constraint payments were made to wind farms operating in Wales in 2010 or 2011.
	(b) (i) In 2010, constraint payments totalling £176,702 were made to wind farms through the balancing mechanism.
	(b) (ii) In 2011, constraint payments totalling £12.1 million were made to wind farms through the balancing mechanism. In addition, National Grid undertook a number of forward energy trades through the market in order to balance the system. These are also classed as constraint payments and resulted in £12.7 million being paid to wind farms.
	By comparison, overall payments to all types of generators to balance the system totalled £708 million for the financial year 2010-11.
	National Grid has advised that forward energy trades are commercially confidential, and is therefore not able to provide details of which energy companies received such payments. Energy companies supplying energy from wind farms received constraint payments through the balancing mechanism in 2011 are detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  £ 
			 RWE 124,133 
			 Scottish Power 3,023,694 
			 Fred Olsen Renewables 1,277,521 
			 Airtricity 84,796 
			 Vattenhall 56,633 
			 npower 2,735,529 
			 Scottish and Southern Energy 2,071,790 
			 Falck Renewables 2,792,947 
		
	
	All of the above companies receiving constraint payments through the balancing mechanism are incorporated in the UK.

Wind Power

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average length of time was for an onshore wind farm to generate sufficient low carbon energy to offset the emissions arising from its manufacture, installation and operation.

Charles Hendry: Emissions paybacks for wind turbines in the UK will vary according to factors such as the location of the turbine and the fossil fuel energy sources displaced, but DECC estimates suggest that a representative emissions payback time for an on-shore wind turbine would be about seven months.

Wind Power: Safety

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to review safety standards in respect of blade dislocation in the wind turbine industry.

Charles Hendry: Wind generators, in the same way as all other industries, are covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) which requires them as duty holders to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of their employees and any members of the public who may be affected by their activities.
	Duty-holders are responsible for assessing and controlling the risks from their undertaking—and it is for the sector to prepare industry standards. For example RenewablesUK have published wind turbine safety rules and guidance, details of which can be seen at:
	http://www.bwea.com/safety/index.html
	There are also well-established British and European standards covering product safety.
	The HSE performs appropriate regulatory checks on the operation and maintenance of wind turbines and also commissions research as needed. An HSE-commissioned report on risk assessment in the vicinity of wind turbines will be published shortly, and we will consider the contents carefully once published.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departmental Pay

Priti Patel: To ask the Leader of the House how much was paid to officials in his office in (a) bonuses, (b) allowances and (c) other payments additional to basic salary in each of the last two years for which figures are available; what categories of payment may be made to officials in addition to basic salary; what the monetary value is of each category of payment; and what the monetary value was of the 20 largest such payments made in each of the last two years.

George Young: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude).

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the contribution of the entertainment industry to the economy; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The latest “Creative Industries Economic Estimates” bulletin was released in December 2011, in which the contribution to the economy of the Creative Industries is estimated—covering gross value added (GVA), employment, exports in services and number of businesses. These estimates are compiled for the Creative Industries as a whole and for the 13 sub-sectors as defined by the 2001 Creative Industries mapping document. Several of these sectors could be defined as entertainment industries, for example the “Music and Visual and Performing Arts” sector which includes performing arts, support activities to performing arts, artistic creation and the operation of arts facilities.
	The Creative Industries as a whole were estimated to contribute £36.3 billion, or 2.9%, to the UK's GVA in 2009. The “Music and Visual and Performing Arts” sector accounted for GVA of £4.1 billion, 0.3% of the UK total.
	The full Creative Industries economic estimates statistical release is available on the DCMS website:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/8682.aspx

Broadband

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps are being taken by his Department to identify areas (a) without broadband and (b) where broadband speeds are below 1Mbps; and what steps are being taken to ensure that such areas either gain access to broadband or benefit from increased speed.

Edward Vaizey: Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) undertook a comprehensive modelling exercise to estimate the performance of all exchange lines in 2010 and has continued to update the data as new information becomes available. The Government have committed £530 million to help stimulate private investment in those locations where the commercial investment case is weak; the ambition is to provide superfast broadband to at least 90% of premises in the UK and to provide universal access to standard broadband with a speed of at least 2 Mbps.

Broadband

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether the telecommunications industry has been consulted on the transfer of responsibilities for broadband to his Department.

Edward Vaizey: Since his appointment, broadband has always been part of the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt)’s portfolio, with officials reporting directly to the Secretary of State or myself, as Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries even when based in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Broadband

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Government's Digital Inclusion Champion on the timetable for the provision of universal broadband.

Edward Vaizey: I have met Martha Lane Fox—the Government's Digital Inclusion Champion—a number of times, to discuss a wide variety of digital issues including the rollout of superfast broadband.

Broadband: Business

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps are being taken to ensure that small businesses in remote areas gain access to high speed broadband.

Edward Vaizey: The Government have committed £530 million to help stimulate private investment in those locations where the commercial investment case is weak, with the ambition to provide superfast broadband to at least 90% of premises in the UK and to provide universal access to standard broadband with a speed of at least 2 Mbps.

Broadband: EU Countries

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with (a) representatives from the telecommunications industry and (b) governments from other European countries on broadband provision; and what comparative assessment he has made of such provision with that available in the UK.

Edward Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has regular discussions with representatives from the telecommunications industry, and I regularly speak with my counterparts in other European member states and the Commission on ICT issues, including on broadband. This Government are committed to ensuring the UK has the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015 and we believe we are on target to achieve that. Ofcom published proposals for the Best in Europe Scorecard which will assess this in their International Communications Market Report in December 2011. In addition, the European Commission is due to publish a broadband international comparisons paper shortly.

Charles Dickens

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department has plans to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens.

Edward Vaizey: Events to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens are publicised at:
	http://www.dickens2012.org/section/exhibitions?page=4
	This Department’s arm’s length bodies, the British Library and the National Portrait Gallery, will be holding exhibitions as part of those celebrations.

English Heritage: Finance

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what information his Department holds on the amount English Heritage has spent on market researchers in each of the last five years.

John Penrose: This Department does not hold information on English Heritage's spending on market researchers in the last five years.

Get Set Network

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many schools in (a) England, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Scotland and (d) Wales have signed up to the London 2012 Get Set Network.

Hugh Robertson: The following number of schools have signed up to the London 2012 Get Set Network.
	
		
			 Nation Number of schools 
			 England 14,072 
			 Northern Ireland 230 
			 Scotland 1,043 
			 Wales 573

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he plans to reply to the letter of 15 November 2011 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr J Allnutt, transferred from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Jeremy Hunt: I responded to the letter of 15 November 2011 from the right hon. Member on 5 January 2012, which was e-mailed directly to his parliamentary office.
	I will arrange for another copy of this letter to be e-mailed to the right hon. Member.

Mobile Phones: Aerials

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has conducted a value for money assessment on the proposed use of public funding to improve mobile phone coverage compared to funding mobile masts in areas which will not be covered by the release of 800 MHz spectrum.

Edward Vaizey: The primary purpose of the £150 million is to fill in mobile voice not spots, but where possible we will look to support the deployment of additional mobile services including 4G when this is being deployed in the UK. Work is under way to determine where the investment should be made and will take into account any decisions made by Ofcom on coverage conditions attached to the 800 MHz licences.

Olympic Games 2012

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Home Office, (b) the Metropolitan Police, (c) Transport for London and (d) local authorities on integrating the technological and human resources available for security at the London 2012 Olympics; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: The Department meets regularly with the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police Service, Transport for London, the Greater London Authority, local authorities in London and elsewhere, and other relevant organisations, to discuss security planning for London 2012. The Home Office is the lead Government Department for Olympic and Paralympic security, although integration of planning and resources on security, as it is for other core activities, is a collective effort across a large number of delivery organisations.
	We are working closely with the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police Service and others to ensure that resource planning, for example the demand for private security guards, is fully integrated with that of other key Olympic and Paralympic delivery partners, especially the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic games (LOCOG).
	The integration of technological requirements and resources is fundamental to the planned system of command, coordination and communication (C3) that is needed to ensure that all significant parties interact sufficiently and are able to manage and coordinate information exchanges and the handling of any significant incidents in the run up to, and during, the Olympic and Paralympic games. This is an ongoing and complex piece of work.

Olympic Games 2012: Tickets

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of tickets for the London 2012 Olympics made available in the UK that were purchased by people resident in the UK.

Hugh Robertson: The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) is a private company operating independently of Government, responsible for the ticketing arrangements for the London 2012 games.
	The Olympic games and Paralympic games are global events. There will be 8.8 million tickets for the Olympic games, with 75% being made available by LOCOG through the UK application process. Already, over 3.5 million tickets have been purchased through this route by more than 850,000 people. More than 95% of successful applications through the UK process were from UK residents.
	Current UK ticket sales are taking place now for the men’s and women’s Olympic football tournament, with further sales planned in April in all 26 Olympic sports, after venue seating plans are finalised.

Olympic Games 2012: Tourism

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to encourage tourists in London for the London 2012 Olympics to extend their stay and visit other parts of the UK.

John Penrose: With both the Olympic and Paralympic games and the diamond jubilee taking place in Britain this year, we are committed to seizing the unique opportunity to raise the profile of the UK as a place to visit.
	VisitBritain’s new international marketing campaign, with an investment of around £120 million, is targeting our biggest international markets and promoting all areas of the UK. They are already using the GREAT campaign on their website, and running advertisements featuring GREAT with their strategic and industry partners in key markets around the world. These adverts showcase what overseas visitors can discover in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
	VisitBritain are also working closely with destination management organisations to help them develop ‘attract brands’ which are designed to encourage tourists from both home and abroad to make the most of the wealth of destinations all over the UK.
	In addition, we are encouraging local tourism firms to sign up to a new 20.12% in 2012 offer scheme, which will mean holidaymakers booking a UK short break before the closing ceremony of the Paralympic games to be eligible for a special 20.12% deal with participating UK hospitality and tourism firms.
	The Olympic flame will travel through every county in England, as well as each local authority in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. The relay presents an opportunity for the UK to showcase the best of each community as well as the tourism jewels within each of our regions. Pre-games training camps will also provide an opportunity to create further economic benefits all around the country, including inward investment, through the international attention that will follow. Agreements have been signed between National Olympic and Paralympic Committees and venues across the UK, available at:
	http://www.london2012.com/documents/venue-documents/pre-games-training-camps-agreements.pdf

Olympic Games 2012: Wi-Fi

Claire Perry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to ensure that all free wi-fi access provided at public expense in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games is consistent with the family-friendly standards endorsed by the Independent Review of the Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Childhood.

Edward Vaizey: The Independent Review (Bailey) recommended device level settings work is underway on achieving this. This is the best way for parents to ensure that their children are not able to access inappropriate content wherever they are. There are no plans to provide free wi-fi access in London at public expense during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.

Sports: Equal Opportunities

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to promote gender equality in sports.

Hugh Robertson: Sport England will be investing £1 billion in the new youth and community sport strategy to secure a lasting legacy from London 2012. This will have a strong focus on providing the necessary opportunities and infrastructure for young people to develop a sporting habit for life. Around £450 million will go to sport's national governing bodies (NGBs) between 2013 and 2017 for their Whole Sport Plans and Sport England is working closely with the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation, which provides specialist advice and support to governing bodies, as it develops inclusive criteria for NGB investment.

Sports: Expenditure

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the total expenditure was in each parliamentary constituency by his Department on sport in 2011.

Hugh Robertson: Total expenditure by this Department on sport is not held at parliamentary constituency level. In 2011 UK Sport directly invested £70,460,543 in national governing bodies through their World Class Performance Programmes. The awards made directly by Sport England in the financial year 2011-12 were £97,715,605.

Sports: Training

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of voluntary sports coaches in (a) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) England and Wales.

Hugh Robertson: We are unable to provide this information by area; however the programmes in place will benefit constituencies throughout the country.
	We recognise the crucial role of the volunteer in increasing and maintaining participation in sport. Three in every four coaches of the 600,000 qualified sports coaches in the UK is a volunteer, usually giving up three to four hours of their time on a weekly basis.
	The recruitment of volunteer sports coaches in England is a fundamental aspect of the work of the lead agency Sports Coach UK, funded by DCMS through Sport England. Sports Coach UK has also been working with each of the 49 County Sports Partnerships (CSPs), including the Merseyside Sports Partnership, to ensure that the national recruitment strategies of the governing bodies are understood and implemented at a local level.
	In addition, Sport Makers, as part of Sport England's Places, People, Play legacy programme, is encouraging 40,000 people to give up their time and take possibly their first step on the volunteer coach pathway by organising people to take part.
	The new Youth Sport Strategy aims to increase consistently the number of young people developing sport as a habit for life. Sport England will work with schools, colleges and universities, as well as local CSPs, the National Governing Bodies (NGBs) for sport, local authorities and the voluntary sector—the people who know sport and young people best—to improve the sporting offer that we make available to them.
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/8761.aspx
	For the first time, as part of the new Whole Sport Plans, NGBs will be tasked with delivery of increased participation for young people under 16. Each Whole Sport Plan will include ambitious objectives to ensure that sports deliver increased participation for both youth and adults alike.

War Memorials: Repairs and Maintenance

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will create a British war memorial fund to provide finance for the maintenance of war memorials in the UK.

John Penrose: Traditionally, British war memorials are built and managed through private subscription rather than taxpayer funding. This has been true for the vast majority of our existing memorials, from Nelson's column in Trafalgar Square to the local village memorials and the new Bomber Command monument currently being built in Green Park. As such, we have no plans to create a British war memorial fund but there are already programmes in place to support the preservation and repair of war memorials across the country.
	English Heritage and the Wolfson Foundation, in association with the War Memorials Trust, provide grants for the repair and conservation of free-standing war memorials in England. To date, over £757,000 has been offered under the scheme.
	This Department's Memorial Grant scheme makes grants equivalent to the value added tax incurred by charities and faith groups in erecting, maintaining or repairing public memorials, including war memorials. Since the start of the scheme in 2005-06, over £1.8 million has been given out to support memorials across the UK.
	In addition to Government support, Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded more than £28.18 million over the last 17 years to over 66 projects across the UK that have specifically included the conservation of war memorials.

JUSTICE

Children

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what methods are used by his Department to measure the effects of its decisions on the subjective well-being of children.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) considers equality issues in exercising its functions, to comply with equality legislation and to ensure it understands how its activities will impact upon different people. It provides information about this consideration in various ways, including by undertaking equality impact assessments (EIAs). The protected equalities characteristics include age and therefore impacts on children will be considered.
	There are a variety of evidence methods used to assess impacts, including consultations, surveys and other research approaches. Evidence may not necessarily be available to assess impacts of specific policies on subjective well being, though where it is this will be taken into consideration.

Community Legal Service

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what proportion of the amounts falling due to the Community Legal Service under the Statutory Charge within (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 relates to costs recoverable for private family law matters;
	(2)  what proportion of the value of civil representation for financial provision on divorce cases completed in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 were subject to the Statutory Charge.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is able to determine the total amount of Statutory Charge levied each year and to provide a breakdown of this by category of law. The amounts levied for private family law matters as a proportion of the total amounts levied was 92% in 2008-09; 91% in 2009-10 and 90% in 2010-11. Within the category of law called financial provision, funding is available for the sub-category financial provision resulting from divorce. However, the proportion of the value of these cases subject to the statutory charge is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Coroners: Witnesses

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department can take to ensure that foreign witnesses can be called upon to give evidence at inquests in the UK concerning deaths which occur abroad.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice has responsibility for coroner law and policy but not operational responsibility which rests with individual local authorities. Therefore it cannot intervene in operational matters such as commissioning statements from witnesses overseas. I am, however, aware of the difficulties faced by coroners investigating deaths abroad who cannot take advantage of Mutual Legal Assistance arrangements as they are not part of the UK criminal justice system. Nevertheless, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does liaise between coroners in England and Wales and overseas countries to facilitate co-operation, but neither the FCO nor coroners can compel overseas witnesses to give evidence at an inquest.

Courts: Unpaid Fines

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much of the sum imposed in court fines was unpaid at the end of each month since May 2010.

Jonathan Djanogly: Information on how much was outstanding for financial penalties at the end of each month is set out in the following table. Financial penalties include fines, costs, victim surcharge, compensation, unpaid fixed penalties and penalty notices for disorder which have been transferred to HMCTS for enforcement.
	
		
			 Date Outstanding balance (£) 
			 2010  
			 May 597,407,373.91 
			 June 597,926,217.01 
			 July 603,218,336.26 
			 August 601,379,175.19 
			 September 605,343,857.00 
			 October 608,038,536.21 
			 November 609,467,452.69 
			 December 607,827,570.25 
			   
			 2011  
			 January 608,938,162,50 
			 February 609,172,527.51 
			 March 609,559,293.80 
			 April 608,300,210.78 
			 May 609,516,265.52 
			 June 610,873,978.86 
			 July 608,575,858.68 
			 August 608,910,827.30 
			 September 609,334,157.72 
		
	
	Over the last few years HMCTS have worked on implementing and embedding the principles set out in the Criminal Compliance and Enforcement Services Blueprint to achieve a higher degree of first time compliance. All regions have been focusing on directing resources to ‘up front’ compliance actions such as: increased use of telephone and text message chasing; increased use of intelligence tracing tools; and increased use of sanctions such as deductions from benefits and attachment of earnings. As a result HMCTS has stopped the increase in the outstanding balance.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many awards the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority made of (a) up to £5,000, (b) £5,001 to £10,000, (c) £10,001 to £15,000, (d) £15,001 to £20,000, (e) £20,001 to 25,000, (f) 25,001 to £30,000, (g) £30,001 to £35,000, (h) £35,001 to £40,000, (i) £40,001 to 45,000, (j) 45,001 to £50,000, (k) £50,001 to £55,000, (l) £55,001 to £60,000, (m) £60,001 to 65,000, (n) 65,001 to £70,000, (o) £70,001 to £75,000, (p) £75,001 to £80,000, (q) £80,001 to 85,000, (r) 85,001 to £90,000, (s) £90,001 to £95,000, (t) £95,001 to £100,000, (u) £100,001 to £125,000, (v) £125,001 to £150,000, (w) £150,001 to £175,000, (x) £175,001 to £200,000, (y) £200,001 to £250,000, (z) £250,001 to £300,000, (aa) £300,001 to £350,000, (ab) £350,001 to £400,000, (ac) £400,001 to £450,000 and (ad) £450,001 to £500,000 in 2010.

Jonathan Djanogly: Figures covering cases resolved in the 2010 financial year are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Band Number of awards 
			 Up to £5,000 25,204 
			 £5,001 to £10,000 3,034 
			 £10,001 to £15,000 1,601 
			 £15,001 to £20,000 716 
			 £20,001 to £25,000 511 
			 £25,001 to £30,000 155 
			 £30,001 to £35,000 90 
			 £35,001 to £40,000 51 
			 £40,001 to £45,000 36 
			 £45,001 to £50,000 32 
			 £50,001 to £55,000 24 
			 £55,001 to £60,000 21 
			 £60,001 to £65,000 24 
			 £65,001 to £70,000 12 
			 £70,001 to £75,000 17 
			 £75,001 to £80,000 15 
			 £80,001 to £85,000 13 
			 £85,001 to £90,000 7 
			 £90,001 to £95,000 8 
			 £95,001 to £100,000 10 
			 £100,001 to £125,000 40 
			 £125,001 to £150,000 43 
			 £150,001 to £175,000 21 
			 £175,001 to £200,000 16 
			 £200,001 to £250,000 44 
			 £250,001 to £300,000 21 
			 £300,001 to £350,000 11 
			 £350,001 to £400,000 10 
			 £400,001 to £450,000 5 
			 £450,001 to £500,000 39

Departmental Apprentices

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding from the public purse has been allocated to sponsor apprenticeships in each of the public bodies for which his Department is responsible between (a) April 2010 and March 2011, (b) April 2011 and March 2012 and (c) April 2012 and March 2013.

Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice including its public bodies has a well established programme of apprenticeships for its staff. The Ministry will continue to use apprenticeships to raise the skills and capability of existing staff by offering opportunities to develop transferable skills and support future recruitment.
	The Ministry has devolved responsibilities for learning and training budgets to each of its public bodies. The allocation of funding for internal apprenticeships is the responsibility of each individual public body and it is not held centrally. As the Ministry is responsible for 52 public bodies, to obtain this information would incur a disproportionate cost.
	The learning and development budgets for (c) April 2012 to March 2013 have not yet been finalised. The Ministry will continue to work with Skills for Justice, who are our skills sector council, our other provider networks and Civil Service Learning to develop our ongoing apprenticeship programmes.
	The Ministry also works with providers that draw on Skills Agency funding that allocates free apprenticeship training places. This provision is also available to all public bodies.

Departmental Apprentices

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding his Department allocated to sponsor apprenticeships in his Department in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and how much such funding he plans to allocate in 2012-13.

Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice has a well established programme of sponsoring apprenticeships for its staff. The Ministry will continue to use apprenticeships to raise the capability of its existing staff by offering opportunities to develop transferable skills and support future recruitment.
	The Ministry does not set aside a specific funding allocation for internal apprenticeships. Instead, as apprenticeships are part of the Ministry's overall approach to learning and development, the funding used to sponsor internal apprenticeships is drawn from the overall training and development budgets. Over the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011, the Ministry has spent a total of £61,312 on apprenticeship training. For the period 1 April 2011 to 31 December 2011 the amount of monies spent was £41,495 with an anticipated spend of £55,495 by 31 March 2012. The potential allocations of monies for 2012-13 is not yet known.
	The recent decline in funding is the inevitable result of the reductions being made in the total number of employees and the lower levels of recruitment of new employees, as a result of the public spending settlement. This does not involve any reduction in the priority that we give to apprenticeship in the medium and longer term when recruitment will return to a more steady and sustained level.
	The Ministry will continue to work with Skills tor Justice, our skills sector council, our provider networks and Civil Service Learning to develop our ongoing apprenticeship programmes. The Ministry also works with providers that draw on Skills Agency funding to provide the Department with free places where possible.

Departmental Aviation

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has spent on flights for its officials since May 2010.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Department do not separately record expenditure on flights for its officials. To provide a figure for the amount spent on flights for officials alone would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Consultants

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has spent on external consultants in each month since May 2010.

Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice has spent the following on external consultants since May 2010:
	
		
			  Spend ( net)  (£) 
			 May 2010 1,888,433 
			 June 2010 3,523,312 
			 July 2010 2,421,828 
			 August 2010 2,393,316 
			 September 2010 2,111,881 
			 October 2010 3,754,105 
			 November 2010 1,533,988 
			 December 2010 1,966,613 
			 January 2011 1,746,524 
			 February 2011 1,647,381 
			 March 2011 2,399,586 
			 April 2011 3,757,813 
			 May 2011 1,283,862 
			 June 2011 2,755,656 
			 July 2011 2,929,399 
			 August 2011 2,197,902 
			 September 2011 2,362,592 
			 October 2011 1,435,206 
			 November 2011 1,197,102 
			 Note: Data are only available up until November 2011.

Freedom of Information

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many freedom of information requests his Department has received in each month of the last five years.

Kenneth Clarke: The table provides a monthly breakdown of the number of requests received by the Ministry of Justice and associated bodies not listed as separate public authorities under schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information Act (‘the Act’). Under the Official Statistics code of practice, we cannot release statistics for a time period prior to their appearance in a regular statistical report. Statistics for October to December 2011 are therefore not included, but they will be collated and published on the Ministry of Justice website in due course.
	These figures have been obtained from a central database. These figures include only first requests—appeals against responses provided to requests are not counted.
	
		
			  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 January 68 62 262 248 287 
			 February 74 50 240 253 275 
			 March 63 41 273 328 340 
			 April 42 88 233 260 265 
			 May 66 68 208 268 290 
			 June 40 92 241 309 298 
			 July 55 105 238 299 274 
			 August 67 107 222 324 273 
			 September 60 135 296 275 322 
			 October 51 166 252 240 — 
			 November 55 241 300 292 — 
			 December 43 222 205 220 — 
			 Total 684 1,377 2,970 3,316 2,624

Freedom of Information

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for how requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 his Department claimed an exemption to not provide requested information in each month since May 2010.

Kenneth Clarke: A breakdown of the information requested is provided in the table. Under the Official Statistics Code of Practice, we cannot release statistics for a time period prior to their appearance in a regular statistical report. Statistics for October to December 2011 are therefore not included, but they will be collated and published on the Ministry of Justice website in due course.
	The figures provided include all requests in which a permitted exemption under the Freedom of Information Act was applied, with the exception of Section 21. Section 21 is applied when the information requested is accessible by other means, for example on the Ministry of Justice website.
	
		
			  2010 2011 
			 January — 33 
			 February — 131 
			 March — 144 
			 April — 108 
			 May 103 120 
			 June 106 108 
			 July 128 112 
			 August 137 127 
			 September 118 130 
			 October 137 — 
			 November 106 — 
			 December 115 — 
			 Total 950 1,013

Legal Aid Scheme: Families

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what net savings in relation to family legal aid his Department estimates will be achieved from (a) the legal aid budget, (b) his Department's budget and (c) total Government expenditure in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15; and what figures his Department is using as the baseline comparison.

Jonathan Djanogly: The impact assessments published alongside the Government's response to consultation represent the best estimates of the potential benefits arising from the reform and include an estimate as to the savings relating to family legal aid. The impact assessments estimate the total legal aid reform savings for each year, however this is not split into civil and family savings.
	The impact assessments use a 2009-10 baseline to estimate the legal aid reform savings.
	The legal aid reform impact assessments can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/legal-aid-reform.htm

Legal Aid Scheme: Families

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what estimate the Legal Services Commission has made of the sum to be recovered for private family cases completed in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 through (i) contributions from clients, (ii) costs recoverable and (iii) recoveries from the Statutory Charge;
	(2)  what proportion of money estimated to be due to the Community Legal Service under the Statutory Charge was collected in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) does not forecast costs recoverable, including contributions and amounts owed under the Statutory Charge by category of law.

Legal Aid Scheme: Families

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of reductions in his Department's expenditure on family legal aid is projected to relate to costs paid to solicitors delivering family services in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15.

Jonathan Djanogly: Savings calculations were made on a ‘steady state’ basis and as such it is not possible to provide an annualised profile. However, based on steady state calculations, we estimate that 81% of savings attributable to family legal aid relate to costs paid to solicitors.

Legal Aid Scheme: Personal Injury

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners in the secure estate have made personal injury claims with funding from legal aid in each of the last 10 years.

Jonathan Djanogly: The vast majority of personal injury cases are excluded from the legal aid scheme, although funding may be provided if the matter has significant wider public interest. However, it is not recorded whether an applicant for legal aid is a prisoner.

Legal Aid Scheme: Prisoners

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy is on future reduction or elimination of legal aid for prisoners challenging their conviction or sentence; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Djanogly: We have no plans to change legal aid eligibility for prisoners making an appeal against their conviction or sentence. An appeal must be made within 21 days of conviction or sentence by a magistrates court. Appeals can only be made out of time with the permission of the Crown court. An appeal against conviction or sentence by the Crown court must ordinarily be made within 28 days. All appeals against conviction or sentence by the Crown court may only be made with the permission of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division). Subject to financial eligibility criteria, advice and assistance may be available for an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Legal Aid Scheme: Social Security Benefits

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the extent of any additional costs to (a) the NHS and (b) other Government Departments as a result of welfare benefits being removed from the scope of legal aid.

Jonathan Djanogly: The impact assessments published alongside the Government's response to consultation represent the best estimates of the potential costs and benefits attached to the reforms. Ultimately, costs and benefits arising, including those to other Government Departments, will be determined by behavioural responses to the changes, which cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty. It should be noted that the Department of Health has confirmed that in the context of the reforms as a whole, which include both the Lord Justice Jackson reforms and legal aid, costs to the NHS are expected to reduce and not increase. We will be conducting a post-implementation review of the reforms three to five years after Royal Assent, and this will consider the question of systemic impacts of the reforms.

Legal Aid Scheme: Social Security Benefits

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on legal aid (a) advice and (b) representation for appeals to adjust welfare benefit determinations made to the upper tribunals and higher courts in each of the last five years.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) does not record spending to the level of detail requested and are unable to identify spending on all appeals to adjust welfare benefit determinations at the upper tribunal and higher courts.

Legal Services Commission

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of the total expenditure on legal aid was taken up by expenditure on the Legal Services Commission's administrative functions in each of the last five years.

Jonathan Djanogly: The following table shows spending on legal aid and the LSC's administration costs for each of the past five years.
	
		
			  2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Legal aid spend (£ million) 1,980 2,023 2,101 2,149 2,134 
			 LSC administration spend (£ million) 114 133 123 129 128 
			 Combined spending on legal aid and LSC administration (£ million) 2,095 2,156 2,223 2,278 2,262 
			 LSC admin spend as a proportion of combined legal aid spending and spending on LSC administration (percentage) 5.5 6.1 5.5 5.7 5.7

Offenders: Deportation

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many foreign national prisoners serving a determinate sentence were deported under the Early Removal Scheme in 2010-11.

Damian Green: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Home Department.
	In 2010-11, 1,789 foreign national offenders were deported under the Early Removal scheme.

Offenders: Rehabilitation

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department is providing any form of underwriting for the social impact bond pilot at HMP Peterborough.

Crispin Blunt: The Department has not underwritten the social impact bond pilot at Peterborough prison. Investors managed by Social Finance bear the implementation and operational costs of the scheme and will receive a return on their investment from the Department if the bond achieves the required reduction in reoffending. Otherwise no payment will be made.

Post-Mortems

Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what targets his Department has set for the time taken to complete histological and toxicological tests carried out as part of the preparation of a post mortem report.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice has responsibility for coroner law and policy only. It does not have operational responsibility for coroners and therefore does not have any role in setting targets for the completion of histological or toxicological reports requested in conjunction with coroners’ investigations. Operational responsibility for coroners rests with individual local authorities.

Post-Mortems

Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many unexpected deaths (a) were reported to coroners, (b) were subject to post mortem reports and (c) required (i) histological and (ii) toxicological tests to be carried out as part of the preparation of the post mortem report in (A) England, (B) Wales, (C) Scotland and (D) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what the (a) shortest, (b) longest and (c) average time taken was to carry out (i) histological and (ii) toxicological tests prior to the completion of post mortem reports into unexpected deaths in (A) England, (B) Wales, (C) Scotland and (D) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Jonathan Djanogly: The number of deaths reported to coroners in England and Wales in the last five years for which figures are available, and the number of such cases where a post-mortem examination was undertaken, is set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Deaths reported to coroners, and post-mortem examinations, 2006-10 
			  England Wales 
			  Deaths reported during year Post-mortem examinations undertaken Deaths reported during year Post-mortem examinations undertaken 
			 2006 215,564 103,290 14,443 6,934 
			 2007 219,668 103,423 14,790 6,937 
			 2008 219,751 101,400 15,033 6,960 
			 2009 215,385 98,587 14,498 6,767 
			 2010 216,243 95,402 14,352 6,541 
		
	
	The Ministry started collecting information on the numbers of post-mortem examinations that included either histology or toxicology in 2010. In that year, 14,137 post-mortems ordered by coroners in England included histological tests, and in Wales there were 1,540; toxicological tests were performed in 9,499 post-mortems in England, and 845 in Wales. These figures exclude three coroner districts in England that were not able to provide these data. Statistics are not available for earlier years.
	The Ministry does not collect information on the timeliness of post-mortem examinations, or in relation to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Prison Accommodation

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the occupancy rate was for each prison and young offenders' establishment on 1 January 2012;
	(2)  what the (a) certified normal accommodation and (b) operational capacity was of each prison and young offenders' establishment on 1 January 2012;
	(3)  how many prisoners were accommodated in multiple-occupancy cells in each prison and young offenders' establishment on 1 January 2012.

Crispin Blunt: The occupancy rate of each prison and young offenders institution, as defined by the percentage of population, to in-use certified normal accommodation is published for the last working Friday in December 2011 and is set out in the table. This information is published monthly on the MOJ website via the attached link:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/prisons-and-probation/prison-population-figures/index.htm
	The operational capacity and certified normal accommodation of each prison and young offenders institution for the last working Friday in December 2011 is also set out in this table.
	Information is held centrally on cell occupancy, but no data is available for around 2,000 prisoners, and it is therefore not possible to provide the number of prisoners accommodated in multiple-occupancy cells at an establishment level. It is however possible from the data available to determine the approximate number of prisoners who are sharing accommodation at a national level. As at 30 December 2011 around 35,000 prisoners (40% of the prison population) were sharing accommodation with other prisoners, be it crowded (eg two prisoners held in a cell designed for one) or not (eg two prisoners held in a cell designed for two).
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing

Prison Officers Association: Trade Unions

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  whether he has made an assessment of the feasibility of the restoration of full trade union rights to the Prison Officers' Association;
	(2)  what recent representations he has received on the restoration of full trade union rights to the Prison Officers' Association.

Crispin Blunt: Prison officers are currently restricted from taking industrial action under section 127 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994 for reasons of safety. These restrictions were suspended in 2005, when the Prison Officers' Association signed a no-strike agreement with the Prison Service, which they later breached by taking national strike action on 29 August 2007. The previous Government subsequently reinstated the legal restrictions on prison officers taking industrial action.
	The potentially serious consequences of industrial action by prison officers necessitate safeguards against this course of action. Alternatives have been assessed but the Government are not considering lifting these restrictions. In lieu of their ability to strike, compensatory mechanisms for prison officers are in place, including local and national disputes procedures, with recourse to independent arbitration if required, and the Prison Service Pay Review Body, which recommends the levels of pay and allowances of prison officers.
	The Prison Officers' Association has consistently made representations on the restoration of full trade unions rights. This is not being considered, for the reasons given above.

Prisoners’ Release

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment his Department has made of the merits of not releasing prisoners on a Friday in order to ensure availability of support.

Crispin Blunt: Prisoners are released on a Friday, where the release date falls on a weekend/bank holiday, as set down in legislation. There are no plans to amend that legislation.
	When a court imposes a custodial sentence, prison staff calculate the prisoner's release date according to the number of days to be served under the legislation relevant to the sentence. Prisoners whose statutory release dates fall on weekends or bank holidays are released on the preceding working day under Section 23(3) of the Criminal Justice Act 1961. To detain anyone beyond the weekend would mean a prisoner was being detained longer than is statutorily required and therefore unlawfully. To bring forward the release would mean the prisoner would not have served the custodial period required by law. Therefore, it is not possible to release a prisoner on any other day as it would be unlawful to do so.

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many foreign national prisoners were removed from England and Wales in 2011; and to which countries they were removed.

Damian Green: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Home Department.
	In 2010-11, 5,339 foreign national offenders were removed or deported from the UK. It is our policy not to disclose the countries to which we remove or deport foreign national offenders as this could damage diplomatic relations and hence the opportunity to remove offenders.

Prisoners: Jamaica

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2011, Official Report, columns 464-5, on prisoners: foreign nationals, what progress has been made in negotiating prisoner transfer agreements with (a) Jamaica and (b) Nigeria.

Crispin Blunt: The UK signed a voluntary prisoner transfer agreement (PTA) with Jamaica in 2007. However, the Jamaican Government needs to introduce enabling legislation to ratify this agreement. Discussions about the progress of this legislation and the implementation of the agreement are ongoing and will be raised by Ministers attending the UK-Caribbean ministerial forum later this month.
	Voluntary transfer of prisoners between the UK and Nigeria has been possible since 2009 when Nigeria became a participant of the Commonwealth scheme for the transfer of convicted offenders. During the Prime Minister's visit to Nigeria in July 2011, he and President Goodluck Jonathan pledged that they would work to provide a compulsory mechanism for nationals from both countries to be transferred home to serve out their sentences. The Bill to amend the relevant domestic Nigerian legislation to enable the negotiation of a compulsory PTA is now awaiting its final reading in the Nigerian Senate.

Third Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding his Department allocated to (a) Centrepoint, (b) Crisis, (c) Skill Force and (d) Shelter in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice provided funding of £620,698 to Shelter during 2010-11. According to our records, in the current financial year, Shelter has received £657,824 in funding from this Department.
	The Ministry of Justice did not provide funding to Centrepoint, Crisis and Skill Force in neither 2010-11 nor 2011-12.

Young Offenders: Suicide

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the length of time following transfer until the date of death was of those people transferred from the youth secure estate to the adult secure estate who committed suicide in the last three years;
	(2)  how many people aged between 18 and 21 years who committed suicide in the secure adult estate had been transferred from the youth secure estate in each of the last three years;
	(3)  how many prisoners of each age between 18 and 21 committed suicide in the adult secure estate in each of the last three years.

Crispin Blunt: There has been one apparent self-inflicted death in the adult secure estate of a prisoner aged 20 years following transfer from the youth secure estate in the last three years (2008 to 2010). This death occurred in 2009, 98 days after the transfer to the adult secure estate.
	In the last three years there have been three apparent self-inflicted deaths in the adult secure estate of prisoners aged between 18 and 21; one at age 21 and two at age 20.

TREASURY

Air Passenger Duty

John Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with their counterparts in other Commonwealth member states on the effects of air passenger duty.

Chloe Smith: As part of the consultation process, Ministers and officials met with representatives of several Commonwealth member countries to hear their views directly. Annex D of the Government's response to the consultation on reform of air passenger duty, published 6 December 2011, lists the countries that contributed to the consultation.

Banks: Pay

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures are in place to record (a) chief executive pay and (b) bonuses paid by banks to staff.

Mark Hoban: Quoted companies must disclose the pay of all directors, including chief executive officers, in directors' remuneration reports required under section 420 of the Companies Act 2006. Aggregate information on variable remuneration, including bonuses, paid to senior management and members of staff whose actions have a material impact on the risk profile of the bank, must be disclosed by banks under disclosure rules made by the Financial Services Authority in the prudential sourcebook for banks, building societies and investment firms.

Capital Transfer Tax

John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid in capital transfer tax in each year between 1982 and 1986.

David Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided on 12 January 2012, Official Report, column 390W.

Children

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what methods are used by his Department to measure the effects of its decisions on the subjective well-being of children;
	(2)  what research his Department has commissioned to measure the subjective well-being of children.

Chloe Smith: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is in the process of developing measures of subjective well-being as part of the National Well-being Programme. The Treasury has not commissioned any separate research on the subjective well-being of children.
	The ONS is working with a range of stakeholders, including Government Departments and the third sector, to develop well-being measures for children and young people. This work aims to come up with questions and identify survey vehicles to collect information that is comparable across UK countries and other developed countries to get an accurate picture of children's well-being.
	This will help provide Government Departments, including HM Treasury, with better information on children's subjective well-being for use when developing policy.
	The ONS is currently running a consultation on the proposed measures of national well-being. This includes all subgroups in the population, including children and young people For more information please visit:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/about-ons/consultations/open-consultations/measuring-national-well-being/index.html
	Further information of the ONS work on Children and Young People's Well-being can also be found on:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/well-being/wellbeing-knowledge-bank/understanding-wellbeing/understanding-well-being.html

Debts

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average level of personal (a) debt and (b) savings was in each region of the UK in each of the last 10 years.

Chloe Smith: The Government do not collect data on the average level of personal debt and savings by UK region.

Departmental Manpower

Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many speechwriters his Department employs at each pay grade.

Chloe Smith: HM Treasury employs two speechwriters, one at pay range D and one at pay range E.

Departmental Work Experience

Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines his Department issues to its non-departmental public bodies on the employment of unpaid interns.

Chloe Smith: HM Treasury's non-departmental public bodies receive the same guidance on the employment of interns as for HM Treasury itself. HM Treasury does not have its own scheme for internships, but participates in schemes run centrally by the Cabinet Office. Any individuals enquiring about internships are directed to the schemes in operation at the time which include Summer Diversity Internships, Government Economics Services Internships and websites of departments offering other internship programmes.

EU Law

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which EU (a) Directives, (b) Regulations and (c) other legislation affecting his Department require transposition into UK law; and what estimate he has made of the cost to (i) the public purse and (ii) the private sector of such measures.

Mark Hoban: The obligation to transpose EU law arises as a result of the adoption of measures under the Union treaties. Under the EU treaty, it is above all the adoption of directives which gives rise to the obligation to transpose. Directives are legally binding instruments but they are addressed to the member states. They need to be given effect in national law both as to their substantive provisions and also as to any additional measures, such as the creation of sanctions, which may be necessary in order to ensure the proper application and enforcement of the provisions of the directive.
	Regulations have general application: they are binding in their entirety and directly applicable in all member states. Therefore, it is generally unnecessary to transpose the provisions of EU regulations into domestic law. National provisions that are inconsistent with a regulation and existing domestic legislation that wrongly duplicates the provisions of an EU regulation should, however, be repealed.
	In relation to part (c), no other legislation requiring transposition affects HM Treasury.
	It is Government policy to conduct impact assessments of EU directives and regulatory proposals, which assess the cost and benefit of such measures. The Government do not aggregate these data.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will have regard to the effect of high fuel duties on low income working families in his preparatory work for the next Budget.

Chloe Smith: The Chancellor keeps all taxes under review along Budget timelines and considers a range of factors including the effects on low income families of the Government's fiscal plans. The Autumn Statement, 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, announced that the 3.02ppl fuel duty increase that was due to take effect on 1 January 2012 will be deferred to 1 August 2012, and the inflation increase that was planned for 1 August 2012, currently expected to be worth 1.92ppl, will be cancelled. This will provide support for motorists and businesses.

Financial Services: Standards

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps HM Revenue and Customs are taking to progress the development of the ISO20022 payment submission format; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: The development of payment submission formats is a matter for the banking industry. HMRC are working with the industry to identify the most suitable format for joint submission of payment instructions and PAYE data.

PAYE

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likely effect of implementation of the proposed interim solution for the PAYE Real-Time Information project on the timetable for completion of the strategic solution; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: The interim solution for Real-Time Information was developed in response to concerns from employers and the payroll industry about the timescales for implementing a Bacs filing channel and a new payment standard. This solution ensures that Real-Time Information can be implemented in time for the start of universal credit, which will use the information to adjust payments to claimants.
	HMRC is working with the payroll and banking industries to develop the detailed requirements of the strategic solution, involving the Bacs channel, and determine the appropriate timetable for implementation.

PAYE

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a target date for implementation of the strategic PAYE Real-Time Information solution has been agreed; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: A target date for the implementation of the strategic solution has not yet been set. HMRC currently envisage that the interim Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) channel will be retained until at least 2016-17. The internet channel will be retained for employers who do not pay their employees using Bacs.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in (a) his Department and (b) HM Revenue and Customs are working on minimising the avoidance of stamp duty land tax.

David Gauke: In HM Treasury much of the work on the avoidance of SDLT is carried out alongside other areas of taxation. It is therefore not possible to come up with a meaningful quantification of the people involved.
	Neither is it possible to estimate the number of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) staff involved in stamp duty land tax compliance activities as this work is largely carried out in HMRC's Large Business Service and Local Compliance offices in conjunction with compliance work on other taxes.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2012, Official Report, column 71W, on stamp duties, whether he is referring to Spotlight 6: Employer-Financed Retirement Benefits Scheme or Spotlight 10: Stamp Duty Land Tax avoidance; and if he is referring to Spotlight 10, on how many occasions HM Revenue and Customs has found property sale arrangements that have been artificially structured to avoid paying the correct amount of stamp duty land tax; how many were actively challenged; and what action was taken.

David Gauke: The earlier answer was intended to refer to Spotlight 10, published in June 2010. I apologise for the error.
	HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is aware of a number of marketed stamp duty land tax (SDLT) avoidance schemes. HMRC considers that none of the schemes which it has analysed is effective in reducing the purchaser's liability to SDLT.
	Wherever HMRC identifies that an avoidance scheme has (or may have been) used we issue a challenge. Where an SDLT return has been submitted and full disclosure of use of a scheme has been made, an inquiry is opened into the return. Where no return or disclosure has been made to HMRC a discovery assessment is issued.
	HMRC does not publish detailed information which might prejudice the effective conduct of its compliance activities.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2012, Official Report, columns 70-1W, on stamp duties, how many meetings have been held in his Department with the main subject of stamp duty land tax since May 2011.

David Gauke: The Treasury does not keep an official record of meetings of this type. However the Treasury holds regular meetings on all areas of taxation, including stamp duty land tax.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2012, Official Report, columns 70-1W, on stamp duties, what steps he takes to ensure that stamp duty land tax is paid by the purchaser when acquiring a property; and what further steps he plans to take.

David Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Windsor (Adam Afriyie), on 12 January 2012, Official Report, column 388W.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2012, Official Report, columns 70-1W, on stamp duties, whether it is appropriate to use the term avoidance in the context of (a) stamp duty and (b) stamp duty land tax.

David Gauke: The term avoidance is not strictly relevant to stamp duty for the reasons set out in the answer given by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich North (Miss Smith), on 8 December 2011, Official Report, column 408W.
	Purchasers in a land transaction must comply with the requirements of stamp duty land tax (SDLT) legislation in order to register their title to the property at the land registry. Avoidance in this context refers to attempts to use elements of tax legislation in combination to produce a result which reduces the amount of SDLT due, contrary to the intentions of Parliament.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

David Mowat: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to reduce avoidance of stamp duty land tax on properties worth more than £1 million through offshore registration; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: It is not possible to avoid SDLT by registering title to UK land offshore. Such title must be registered at UK land registries. In most cases this requires a certificate confirming that stamp duty land tax (SDLT) requirements have been complied with.
	Liability to SDLT is not limited to UK resident purchasers. Where UK land is purchased by a company registered outside the UK, SDLT is payable in the usual way. If shares in the company subsequently change hands, there is no land transaction and SDLT does not apply.

Tax Avoidance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the extent of avoidance of tax through placing land in offshore trusts; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: No such estimate has been made.
	The latest tax gap estimates were published in September 2011 in 'Measuring Tax Gaps 2011' on HMRC's website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/mtg-2011.pdf

Taxation: Business

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases HM Revenue and Customs has initiated proceedings against a business in respect of disputes relating to the tax status of sub-contractors hired by that business in each of the last three years.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs does not maintain a central record of the numbers of proceedings before tax tribunals specific to employment status in the construction sector.

Taxation: Business

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of each (a) set of regulations and (b) item of guidance issued by HM Revenue and Customs and its predecessor relating to the tax status of sub-contractors in the last 15 years.

David Gauke: HMRC's guidance on status for contractors in the construction industry is included in factsheet CIS349. The factsheet, which is available from HMRC's website:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/new-cis/cis349.pdf
	replaced leaflet "IR148 Are your workers employed or self-employed?" which was originally introduced in October 1995.
	I have asked HMRC to locate a copy of the leaflet and arrange for it to be placed with the factsheet in the Library, together with a copy of Regulation 4(5) SI 2005/2045 which is the only regulation specific to employment status in the construction industry. This regulation relates to status declarations that need to be made by contractors.

Taxation: Tribunals

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has contested at the First Tier Tribunal (Tax) in each of the last three years; and in how many such cases (a) the Tribunal has ruled (i) in favour of and (ii) ruled against HMRC and (b) there was a different outcome.

David Gauke: The First-tier Tax Tribunal opened on 1 April 2009 and HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) have published figures for the first two years which show the numbers of tax cases disposed of were:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2009-10 5,600 
			 2010-11 6,100 
		
	
	HMCTS do not collate or publish the outcomes of tax cases.
	About 40% of the disposals were decided by the tribunal (the rest being resolved between the parties). HMRC has analysed around 80% of the hearings in 2010-11, (excluding cases inherited from previous tribunals) and published the results on their website. These show:
	
		
			  Number Percentage 
			 In favour of HMRC 793 74 
			 Against HMRC 225 21 
			 Other outcome 56 5

Unemployment: Young People

Iain Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will use public sector capital expenditure to reduce youth unemployment in Hartlepool; and if he will make a statement.

Danny Alexander: holding answer 24 November  2011 
	On 25 November, the Government announced an ambitious programme for tackling youth unemployment. Starting in 2012, the Youth Contract will deliver:
	an additional 250,000 work experience or sector based work academy places for every unemployed 18-24 year old;
	more Jobcentre Plus support for 18-24 year olds, including extra advisor time and a careers interview from the National Careers Service and weekly, rather than fortnightly, signing;
	a total of 160,000 wage incentive places (at £2,275 each) to make it easier for employers to take on young people;
	additional funding to support the growth of 16-24 apprenticeships, ensuring the funding for at least 40,000 incentive payments (at £1500 each) for employers next year to raise demand for 16-24 apprenticeships; and
	a new £50 million a year programme for those 16 and 17 year olds not in employment, education or training to get them learning, on an apprenticeship or in a job with training.
	The Government are also stimulating private sector investment through the Regional Growth Fund. In the north east alone, the successful second round bids announced in October 2011 will generate an estimated 8,796 direct jobs and 18,800 indirect jobs.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Iran

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the Iranian nuclear programme; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: I am gravely concerned about the Iranian nuclear programme. Iran continues to flout six UN Security Council resolutions requiring it to suspend uranium enrichment. It recently began operations at its uranium enrichment plant near Qom and has conducted significant military-related nuclear activities. Pressure will only increase until Iran is ready to respect its international obligations and negotiate.

Persecution of Christians

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of persecution of Christians in North Africa and the Middle East.

Alistair Burt: Circumstances vary throughout the Middle East and North Africa, although religious minorities, including Christians, have clearly suffered oppression in countries such as Egypt, Iran and Iraq. The UK is deeply committed to freedom of religion and expression and urge authorities to safeguard the rights and freedoms of all individuals, regardless of religion or belief.

Burma

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the state of bilateral relations with Burma; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: When I visited Burma earlier this month the President and I agreed that we were entering a new chapter in our relationship. Last week's historic ceasefire, and release of a significant number of political prisoners are extremely promising. As I made clear, progress on these and the other issues I set out could result in a fundamental shift in our bilateral relations.

Burma

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of his recent visit to Burma; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement made by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), to the House on 16 January 2011, Official Report, columns 28-29WS.
	This visit was an opportunity for the UK to recognise the efforts made by the Government to implement reforms in Burma. The Foreign Secretary met the President, Foreign Minister and Speaker of the Lower House and set out very clearly the further steps we need to see before a more fundamental shift in our relationship could take place. These include:
	the release of all political prisoners;
	free and fair by-elections; and
	humanitarian access to conflict areas alongside a clear process of reconciliation.
	He also met Aung San Suu Kyi and opposition groups, as well as representatives from the ethnic minority communities, and assured them of the UK's continued support for their efforts to promote democracy and respect for human rights in Burma.
	We are all pleased to hear that a significant number of political prisoners in Burma were released last week, including 88 Generation and ethnic leaders. I warmly welcome these releases, as well as the historic ceasefire agreement with the Karen, as further demonstrations of the Burmese Government's commitment to reform. I hope that these positive steps will contribute to greater democratic participation in the upcoming parliamentary by-elections.
	The British Government will continue to follow developments in Burma closely. We will continue to support progress, while making clear, both directly and through the UN, our human rights concerns, especially in the areas affected by ethnic conflict.

Tunisia

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the Government is giving to the development of democracy in Tunisia.

Alistair Burt: Through the Arab Partnership Initiative, the UK is providing British technical expertise on democratic institutions, helping to strengthen freedom of expression and supporting economic development. We are also supporting Tunisia's reform efforts through the EU Neighbourhood programme, the Deauville Partnership and through our contributions to the international financial institutions.

Turks and Caicos Islands

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress he has made on the return of self-government in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Henry Bellingham: In December 2010 the Minister of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr Duncan), and I set out eight milestones to be met before elections could be held. Significant recent progress includes: a new constitution and Crown land policy, recruitment of new senior public servants, and an ambitious programme of tax and public expenditure reform.

Middle East Peace Process

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the status of the middle east peace process; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: The only way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is through direct negotiations between the parties. I welcome the efforts by Jordan to bring the parties together under the framework of the Quartet statement of 23 September. It is important for both sides to seize this opportunity and show the political leadership and courage needed to break the current impasse.

Middle East Peace Process

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the status of the Middle East Peace Process; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: The only way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is through direct negotiations between the parties. I welcome the efforts by Jordan to bring the parties together under the framework of the Quartet statement of 23 September. It is important for both sides to seize this opportunity and show the political leadership and courage needed to break the current impasse.

Diplomatic Network

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of his Department's diplomatic network; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: Our embassies and high commissions are the essential infrastructure of our country's influence overseas and of our economic recovery. We are making substantial progress with our plans to expand and use Britain's diplomatic network to the very full, and expect to open embassies in Kyrgyzstan and El Salvador this year.

The Commonwealth

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the UK's role in reinvigorating the Commonwealth; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2011 agreed some of the most significant reforms in the organisation's history. The Government will continue to work with our Commonwealth partners to reinvigorate this important organisation.

Palestine

Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the political situation in Palestine; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We continue to follow developments on Palestinian reconciliation closely, including recent meetings between Hamas and Fatah officials. We have been clear that any new Palestinian authority must uphold the principle of non-violence, be committed to a negotiated two-state solution, and accept previous agreements of the PLO. We will judge any future Palestinian Government by its actions and its readiness to work for peace.

Libya

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of UK relations with the government of Libya; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: The relationship between Libya and the UK has changed beyond all recognition during the last year. The British Government have close relations with the Libyan Transitional Government. We will build on the goodwill and gratitude for British support to the Libyan people to develop a new, stronger and more productive relationship in the interest of both Libya and the UK.

Bhutan

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a Government Minister last visited Bhutan in an official capacity.

Jeremy Browne: We have no record of a visit to Bhutan by a Minister in recent years. However, the last visit by a senior official was when our high commissioner to New Delhi, from where our relationship with Bhutan is managed, visited in October 2011.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Politics and Government

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the agreement to form a government in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

David Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), made a statement on 13 January in response to the agreement among political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina to form a state-level Council of Ministers. He said we welcomed this progress and the confirmation of Vjekoslav Bevanda as the new Chair of the Council of Ministers. It is now down to all parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina to work together to address other outstanding issues, including the State Budget. Bosnia and Herzegovina deserves a secure and prosperous future in the EU; determination, compromise and leadership will be key for Bosnia and Herzegovina to progress on this path.

British Nationals Abroad: Homicide

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2011, Official Report, columns 872-3W, on British nationals abroad: homicide, for what reasons the memorandum of understanding has not yet been approved; and on what date he expects it to be approved.

Jeremy Browne: The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) are awaiting final approval and signature of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). ACPO have yet to confirm whether further approval is required by ACPO Cabinet. As soon as the MoU is signed by ACPO it can be circulated to the Coroners Society of England and Wales and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for signature. The FCO is ready to sign.

Burma: Political Prisoners

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he raised the issue of the release of prisoners during his recent visit to Burma.

Jeremy Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), to the House on 16 January 2012, Official Report, columns 28-29WS.
	During his recent visit to Burma the Secretary of State met the President, Foreign Minister and Speaker of the Lower House and set out very clearly that the release of all political prisoners was one of the central conditions which we would expect the Burmese Government to fulfil before a more fundamental shift in our relationship could take place.
	He also discussed the issue of political prisoners with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
	We are all pleased to hear that a significant number of political prisoners in Burma were released last week, including 88 Generation and ethnic leaders. I warmly welcome these releases as a further demonstration of the Burmese Government's commitment to reform. I hope that this positive step will contribute to greater democratic participation in the upcoming parliamentary by-elections.

Capital Punishment

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which countries his Department raised the use of the death penalty in 2011.

Jeremy Browne: It is the longstanding policy of the UK to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. We regularly make representations to governments to abolish the death penalty.
	In 2011 the Government raised the death penalty at all appropriate opportunities and with a number of our priority countries as outlined in the Strategy for Global Abolition of the Death Penalty, including our top five priority countries and regions: China, Iran, the US, Belarus and the English-speaking Caribbean region.
	I raised the death penalty with my counterparts when I visited the Caribbean in January 2011 and also made statements throughout the year on Iran, India and Belarus, among other death penalty priority countries. In 2011 we also raised the death penalty through the UN Universal Periodic Review process with some of our priority countries including Trinidad and Tobago, Singapore and Antigua.
	The Government have also intervened in a number of consular cases involving British nationals and, through the EU, in cases of third country nationals.

China: Democracy

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions China's ambassador to the UK was summoned to discuss democracy and human rights issues in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011.

Jeremy Browne: The Chinese ambassador has not been summoned during this period. However, democracy and human rights are a regular topic of discussion in meetings between Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers and the Chinese ambassador, and between senior FCO officials and the Chinese ambassador.

Common Agricultural Policy

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the net contribution of the (a) UK and (b) other EU member states to the common agricultural policy in each of the last five years.

Mark Hoban: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	EU member states contribute to the EU Budget as a whole and not to individual spending programmes within it and there are not, therefore, specific contributions to common agricultural policy expenditure. Details of the UK contributions to the EU Budget are presented in the European Union Finances documents available on HM Treasury's public website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/int_eu_statefraud.htm

Commonwealth

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the UK’s role in reinvigorating the Commonwealth; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2011, Commonwealth leaders agreed some of the most significant reforms in the organisation’s history, notably to strengthen the Ministerial Action Group. Britain welcomes this progress, and will continue to work with our Commonwealth partners to reinvigorate this important organisation.

Democracy

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries his Department regarded as not full democracies in 2011.

Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not categorise countries in this manner. While democracy is a universal ideal, it can have many different forms and there is no single set of criteria for defining democracy. Most democracies are based on common principles, such as respect for human rights and the rule of law, strong institutions, an accountable government and a free press. The FCO supports democracy worldwide by seeking to uphold these principles.

Democracy

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many projects promoting democracy his Department supports in (a) Burma, (b) Cuba and (c) China.

Jeremy Browne: The information is as follows.
	(a) Our embassy in Burma manages £351,500 of projects this financial year that support the promotion of democracy, largely through building the democratic capacity of activists and civil society organisations.
	(b) Our embassy in Cuba does not currently provide funding to projects promoting democracy. However, we are keen to see greater political and civil freedoms in Cuba and so we continue to engage with the Cuban Government, both bilaterally and through the EU, to encourage positive change. We promote values such as freedom of expression, assembly and information in Cuba through regular engagement with human rights defenders, and by monitoring public protests and reported abuses.
	(c) Our embassy in China manages £485,000 of projects this financial year, which are focused on four areas: criminal justice, death penalty, freedom of expression and civil society.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Elections

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role the UK is playing in the delegation from the US National Democratic Institute and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems to the Democratic Republic of Congo to investigate the administration of the legislative elections in that country; and whether the UK is providing a financial contribution to the cost of the mission.

Henry Bellingham: The UK is not participating in the US mission and is not contributing to its costs. However, we remain in close touch with the US on a range of issues on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including elections and the findings of the US scoping mission should help inform future decisions on support to the DRC election process and institutions.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Elections

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial contributions the UK has made to the (a) Carter Centre and (b) EU mission in connection with the monitoring of the recent elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Henry Bellingham: We lobbied to ensure that the EU deployed an observation mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo elections. Five UK observers participated in it. We provided 15% of the cost of the mission through our annual contribution to the EU budget. We also provided £5,900 for expert support to the Southern African Development Community Council of NGOs observation mission.
	We did not help fund the Carter Centre election observation mission.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Elections

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo following the outcome of the elections in that country.

Henry Bellingham: Polling in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) elections was largely peaceful. However there were a number of serious incidents in the run up to and following the elections as demonstrators clashed with the security forces. We are concerned by reports that the security forces were responsible for 24 civilian casualties, and have raised our concerns with the DRC Government. We assess that there remains some risk of political violence.
	Since mid December there has been an increase in violence committed by armed groups in the east of DRC. However we assess that this is unrelated to the elections. We are in close contact with United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and key international partners and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Military Aid

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the UK Government has made to the training of the (a) army and (b) police force in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Henry Bellingham: The UK has contributed towards training of the Congolese army (FARDC) through the conflict prevention pool. We are currently supporting English language training which will allow better co-ordination between the FARDC and United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the last 18 months we have also provided support to training the FARDC in the use of communications equipment and on gathering information against armed groups.
	The Department for International Development is providing £60 million in a multi-year programme to improve security sector accountability and police reform. This is focused primarily on reforming the Congolese police (PNC). The programme has supported various PNC training programmes including: principles of community policing; respect for human rights; handling of sexual violence cases; use of communications equipment; and asset management.
	Additionally, the UK provides personnel to deliver training for the EU police reform mission.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Politics and Government

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations his Department has made to the Government of Democratic Republic of Congo on reports of violence by security forces in that country following the outcome of elections.

Henry Bellingham: During the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) election process the UK ambassador to DRC stressed to the DRC Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Interior and Security, the Chief of Police, and the head of the National Intelligence Agency, the need for the security forces to respond professionally and proportionately to elections-related violence. The ambassador also raised our concerns about the conduct of the security forces with the Presidential Security Advisor and the President of the National Assembly following the release of the election results. We continue to monitor the situation closely.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Politics and Government

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the US Government on the security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Henry Bellingham: Our officials work closely with their US counterparts on a range of issues on the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the security situation. The UK ambassador to DRC meets his US equivalent regularly. We also have discussions with the US at the UN and through the International Contact Group for the Great Lakes Region of Africa.

Departmental Apprentices

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  how much funding his Department allocated to sponsor apprenticeships in his Department in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and how much such funding he plans to allocate in 2012-13;
	(2)  how many apprentices were employed by his Department between (a) April 2010 and March 2011 and (b) April and December 2011; and how many apprenticeships he plans that his Department will sponsor between (i) January and March 2012 and (ii) April and March 2013.

Henry Bellingham: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) runs an apprenticeship scheme through FCO Services, the FCO's Trading Fund providing essential support services to the FCO and other Government Departments. New apprentices are taken on each September and the programme lasts three years. In 2010-11 £1,056,000 of funding was spent on the scheme. In 2011-12 an estimated £962,000 is being spent on the scheme. Funding details for 2012-13 have not yet been finalised but it is likely to be in line with the current financial year.

Departmental Meetings

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policy is on record keeping for official meetings.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) record-keeping is governed by relevant legislation as well as standards set by the National Archives. FCO staff are required to register all information of corporate value to the FCO in the FCO's electronic document registry system. This includes documents needed for the operational purposes of the FCO which have a medium or long-term value or interest and documents likely to be needed for the public record. Information of local or short-term value is kept in the shared drive of the FCO's computer system. Records of official meetings will be recorded in the appropriate location, as described above, according to their content. Corporate value records are stored until they are reviewed for destruction or transfer to the National Archive.

Departmental Work Experience

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidelines his Department issues to its non-departmental public bodies on the employment of unpaid interns.

Henry Bellingham: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has not issued specific guidance to its non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) on the employment of unpaid interns. However, the FCO does keep in close contact with its NDPBs on issues relating to employment and public appointments and provides advice as necessary.
	Within the FCO's NDPBs over the last 12 months, the British Council's UK offices have employed 15 interns on an unpaid/expenses-only basis. The British Council is currently reviewing policy on interns (UK) and will be offering a small, paid internship programme for summer 2012.
	The Westminster Foundation for Democracy has had three short-term expenses-only internships over the last 12 months. Information can be found at:
	http://www.wfd.org/who-we-are/internships.aspx
	There are no other unpaid or expenses-only internships in the FCO's other NDPBs.

Global Response Centre

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the savings to the public purse arising from his Department's Global Response Centre to date.

Jeremy Browne: By using the Global Response Centre (GRC) to deliver out of hours consular support to British nationals, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has been able to reduce payments to overseas out of hours duty officers.
	The savings generated from this reduction fluctuate, because in some urgent circumstances overseas staff may still need to be called out. However we estimate savings to be in the region of £500,000 per annum.

India: EU External Trade

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the EU-India Free Trade Agreement, with (a) article 25 of the General Declaration of Human Rights 1948, (b) article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of the UN, (c) article 21 of the EU treaty and (d) article 207 of the treaty on the functioning of the EU.

Jeremy Browne: We have an agreed position with EU partners which is to push for clauses making compliance with UN human rights instruments an essential element of all EU bilateral free trade agreements (FTA). We are monitoring the current EU negotiation with India but, as this is not yet finalised, it would be premature to comment on the final text. Once the EU-India FTA is agreed, the FTA will be scrutinised by Parliament in the usual way.

Iran: Sanctions

Michael Ellis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on the effectiveness of the international community's Iranian sanctions programme.

Alistair Burt: I have had a wide range of discussions with the UK's international partners about the effectiveness of sanctions against Iran. The E3+3 group—made up of the UK, US, France, Germany, Russia and China—supports a policy of pressure on and engagement with Iran. The EU has supported a range of strong sanctions against Iran, designed to bring it back to the negotiating table on the nuclear issue and—separately—to highlight our concerns about Iranian human rights abuses. We and our partners believe that sanctions on the nuclear issue can slow the development of the Iranian programme, as well as pressing Iran to negotiate seriously with the international community.

Nigeria: Christianity

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Nigeria on the protection of Christian communities in that country.

Henry Bellingham: The British Government are concerned by recent increases in violence and terrorist attacks in Nigeria, and recognise the loss of life suffered by both Christian and Muslim communities.
	I discussed the broad security situation with Nigerian Foreign Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru, together with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), in September last year. At this meeting I emphasised our commitment to working with the Nigerian authorities to improve security for all Nigerians, in line with the Prime Minister’s agreement with President Jonathan in July 2011. Through our high commission in Abuja, we regularly engage with the Nigerian authorities in discussion of security. Most recently, the high commission supported a conference in Kano that brought together regional leaders from the north of Nigeria to discuss peace building and political engagement. This included discussing inter-religious tensions. In addition, the Department for International Development operates a number of programmes in Nigeria that aim to find lasting, peaceful solutions to a range of ongoing tensions in areas of conflict, such as in Jos.

Serbia: Kosovo

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of (a) Serbia and (b) Kosovo on the resolution of the border dispute in the north of Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and I have discussed the current challenges in northern Kosovo with the Kosovan and Serbian Governments on a number of occasions recently. The Foreign Secretary raised this when he met Kosovan Foreign Minister Hoxhaj on 20 October 2011. I raised this with Serbian President Tadic and Foreign Minister Jeremic during my visit to Belgrade on 31 October to 1 November 2011. The Foreign Secretary again discussed this with President Tadic on 16 November 2011, (as did the Prime Minister) and with Foreign Minister Jeremic on 28 November 2011 during their visits to the UK.
	The Government continue to believe that the best way for Serbia and Kosovo to resolve their differences and ensure stable progress towards eventual EU membership is through the EU-facilitated dialogue. I am pleased that an agreement was reached in the dialogue on 2 December 2011 on integrated border and boundary management, which, when implemented, should resolve the staffing of customs gates 1 and 31 on the Serbia-Kosovo border. I also welcome the implementation on 26 December 2011 of the agreement reached in the dialogue on freedom of movement. The removal of some barricades in northern Kosovo following calls by President Tadic is a further positive development but many challenges remain. The Foreign Secretary and I will continue to raise this with our Serbian and Kosovan counterparts at every opportunity.

Singapore: Financial Services

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Singapore on the introduction of a global financial transaction tax.

Jeremy Browne: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has spoken to his Singapore counterpart on a range of issues, but not the global financial transaction tax. The British Government are not opposed to a financial transaction tax in principle, but believe that such a tax can only be viable if applied globally. While the Government could support a global financial transaction tax, it was clear from discussions at G20 meetings last year that the necessary international consensus does not currently exist.

United Nations

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total contribution of the UK to the UN was in each of the last five years; and what comparative assessment he has made of the level of the UK's contribution and those of other EU member states.

Henry Bellingham: The UK makes numerous contributions to the many different parts of the UN system and UN-led activities. Payments come from a wide range of UK Government Departments. Our two largest assessed payments are for the UN Regular Budget and the UN Peacekeeping Budget.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office pays the UK’s share of the UN Regular Budget, which covers core UN Secretariat costs and the UN’s political activities. During the last five calendar years the UK made assessed contributions to the UN Regular Budget as follows:
	
		
			  $ 
			 2007 134,405,937 
			 2008 121,483,273 
			 2009 161,820,119 
			 2010 139,591,230 
			 2011 155,346,491 
		
	
	Currently the UK pays its share of the UN Regular Budget at an assessed rate of 6.604% of the total. This rate, set in 2009, is the second highest rate among the EU member states, after Germany. EU member states, collectively, pay almost 39% of the UN Regular Budget. These assessed payment rates are based on a formula which uses economic data based on relative shares of the world’s Gross National Income from the six previous years and then applies various adjustments on the basis of, for example, low per capita income or relative debt burdens. These rates are subject to change when the scale of assessment is revised again at the end of 2012 using new economic data.
	The UN Peacekeeping Budget follows the UN’s financial year (July-June). The UK’s assessed contributions in the last five UN financial years were:
	
		
			 UNFY $ 
			 2006-07 (1)398,382,024 
			 2007-08 (1)453,172,780 
			 2008-09 510,392,616 
			 2009-10 638,813,118 
			 2010-11 546,422,541 
			 (1) Does not include data for International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and Yugoslavia—data unavailable. 
		
	
	The UK currently pays into the Peacekeeping Budget at an assessed rate of 8.1474%—reflecting the premium that the UK pays as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. The UK is the world’s third highest peacekeeping contributor behind the US and Japan, and the largest contributor among the EU member states, ahead of Germany (8.02%), France (7.55%), Italy (5.00%) and Spain (3.18%).
	The UK, typically through the relevant lead department in the appropriate field, also makes many other substantial payments into the UN system. For UN specialised agencies these are mostly voluntary contributions, with some assessed contributions e.g. for core costs. Additionally there are many significant voluntary contributions to UN funds and programmes and other UN bodies depending on how they support UK objectives and priorities. Of UK Government Departments, Department for International Development (DFID) is the largest contributor of voluntary funding. For illustrative purposes, DFID core contributions to UN bodies in the last five calendar years are set out in the following tables (not including funding that is channelled via country offices as multilateral or bilateral aid, or other HMG departments’ contributions to these bodies).
	
		
			 United Nations Development p rogramme 
			  £ 
			 2007 50,000,000 
			 2008 55,000,000 
			 2009 55,000,000 
			 2010 57,820,000 
			 2011 55,000,000 
		
	
	
		
			 United Nations Children's Fund 
			  £ 
			 2007 21,000,000 
			 2008 21,000,000 
			 2009 21,000,000 
			 2010 21,000,000 
			 2011 42,600,000 
		
	
	
		
			 United Nations Population Fund 
			  £ 
			 2007 20,000,000 
			 2008 20,000,000 
			 2009 22,060,000 
			 2010 20,000,000 
			 2011 20,000,000 
		
	
	
		
			 World Health Organisation 
			  £ 
			 2007 5,500,000 
			 2008 12,500,000 
			 2009 14,640,000 
			 2010 14,000,000 
			 2011 12,500,000 
		
	
	
		
			 United Nations Sports for Development and Peace 
			  £ 
			 2007 19,000,000 
			 2008 10,000,000 
			 2009 11,030,000 
			 2010 10,000,000 
			 2011 10,000,000 
		
	
	
		
			 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation 
			  £ 
			 2007 14,100,624 
			 2008 13,145,293 
			 2009 10,013,305 
			 2010 14,933,819 
			 2011 14,482,083 
		
	
	
		
			 Food and Agriculture Organisation 
			  £ 
			 2007 13,111,296 
			 2008 16,000,000 
			 2009 20,615,063 
			 2010 21,000,000 
			 2011 21,067,064 
		
	
	
		
			 International Fund for Agricultural Development 
			  £ 
			 2007 13,762,000 
			 2008 15,175,652 
			 2009 13,703,750 
			 2010 18,021,250 
			 2011 Nil

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the content of meals provided to personnel serving in Afghanistan; when the views of personnel were last sought about their rations; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 December 2011, Official Report, column 750W, to the right hon. Member for East Renfrewshire (Mr Murphy).
	Ministers take a close interest in the quality of food provided in Afghanistan and recognise that its importance extends beyond nutritional value and has a significant impact on overall morale.
	Food quality standards are maintained and monitored by in-theatre catering staff on a daily basis. Regular assessments of food quality are also carried out by Front Line Command inspection teams. Service personnel are encouraged to provide feedback on the quality and content of meals at the point of service.
	Assessments of operational ration packs (ORPs) are regularly undertaken by review panels which include military personnel who have recently returned from operational deployment and feedback is generally very positive. In addition, each ORP contains a feedback form to enable service personnel to comment on the specific quality and content of that individual ORP. These forms are then used by the Defence Fuel and Food Services team to carry out trend analysis of current food selection and meal components and adjust them appropriately.

Animals: Euthanasia

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) horses and (b) dogs have been euthanised by his Department in 2011; and for what reasons in each case.

Andrew Robathan: A total of 90 military working dogs were euthanased in 2011, for the following reasons:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Old age or behavioural conditions 35 
			 Musculoskeletal conditions 19 
			 Neurological conditions 13 
			 Cancer 11 
			 Undiagnosed 6 
			 Gastroenterological conditions 3 
			 Trauma 2 
			 Cardiovascular conditions 1 
			 Respiratory conditions 0 
			 Integumentary conditions 0 
			 Aural conditions 0 
			 Haemolymphatic conditions 0 
			 Renal conditions 0 
			 Reproductive conditions 0 
		
	
	In comparison, a total of 125 military working dogs were euthanased in 2009, for the following reasons:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Old age or behavioural conditions 66 
			 Musculoskeletal conditions 23 
			 Neurological conditions 6 
			 Cancer 4 
			 Undiagnosed 7 
			 Gastroenterological conditions 7 
			 Trauma 0 
			 Cardiovascular conditions 2 
			 Respiratory conditions 2 
			 Integumentary conditions 3 
			 Aural conditions 1 
			 Haemolymphatic conditions 3 
			 Renal conditions 1 
			 Reproductive conditions 0 
		
	
	A total of 28 horses were euthanased in 2011, for the following reasons:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Lameness 10 
			 Colic 7 
			 Temperament 4 
			 Injury 3 
			 Neurological 3 
			 Malignancy 1 
		
	
	In comparison, a total of 12 horses were euthanased in 2009, for the following reasons:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Lameness 8 
			 Temperament 3 
			 Injury 1

Armed Forces: Animals

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2012, Official Report, columns 9-10W, how much his Department spent on the (a) Swaledale ram, (b) three mountain goats and (c) two Shetland ponies.

Andrew Robathan: The Department incurred no costs in acquiring any of these animals.
	Information related to the cost of maintaining these animals is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Diamond Jubilee 2012

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel his Department expects to deploy for the Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations; and at what cost to the public purse.

Andrew Robathan: Details of the armed forces involvement in events to mark Her Majesty the Queen's diamond jubilee remain at the planning stage and it is too early to say how many armed forces personnel will be involved or what the costs associated with their participation might be.

Armed Forces: Redundancy

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces have been subject to selection for compulsory redundancy in the last year; how many of those so selected would lose pension payments; and how many of those losing pension payments were selected three days before the period when they would have been entitled to full pension rights.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 12 January 2012
	All armed forces redundancies are compulsory, although personnel in a redundancy field may apply to be considered for selection. A total of 2,860 personnel were selected for compulsory redundancy in Tranche 1 of the current Armed Forces Redundancy programme of whom 62% were applicants.
	Personnel serving on pension-earning engagements who are selected for redundancy before they have reached the point where they qualify for an immediate pension (IP) or early departure payment (EDP) do not ‘lose’ pension payments; they receive preserved pensions which are payable at the normal retirement age. In addition, they receive redundancy compensation in the form of tax-free lump sums which, depending on the scheme to which they belong, can be up to three times greater than personnel who have passed this point. They could also qualify for tax-free resettlement grants to which longer-serving personnel are not entitled.
	The number of redundees whose exit date falls three days or less before the date on which they would have qualified for an immediate pension, and will now therefore receive their pension entitlement in the form of a preserved pension, is sufficiently small that National Statistics rounding conventions require it to be categorized as between one and five to prevent the inadvertent identification of individuals.

Armed Forces: Training

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to train landing signal officers.

Nick Harvey: Landing Signals Officers are also operational pilots and fulfil both roles concurrently on a Carrier Vessel type aircraft carrier. As part of the Long Lead Specialist Skills Programme, the UK has instigated a F18 pilot non-reciprocal exchange programme with the US Navy. This will generate both trained pilots for carrier operations and provide experienced pilots for the Landing Signals Officer roles.

Astute Class Submarines

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of whether there is a defence requirement for an eighth Astute Class submarine.

Peter Luff: As part of the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, we conducted a detailed review of all military capability, which confirmed that we could deliver the necessary military tasks with seven Astute class submarines which are significantly more capable than their predecessors.

Conflict Prevention: Finance

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department contributed to the Conflict Pool in each of the last three financial years; to which countries such funding is directed; and how much he plans to contribute in each financial year to 2014-15.

Nick Harvey: Conflict Pool resources are part of a separate Treasury settlement on conflict resources and are managed jointly by DFID, FCO and MOD. This is separate from departmental budget allocations. Over the last three financial years, the MOD has not made any contribution to the Conflict Pool from its departmental budget.
	Conflict funding for 2008-09 and 2009-10 was provided as part of the 2007 comprehensive spending review (CSR) settlement. In 2008-09 the Conflict Prevention Pool and the Stabilisation Aid Fund disbursed around £185 million. In 2009-10, the two funds were merged to create the Conflict Pool, which disbursed approximately £180 million in both 2009-10 and 2010-11.

Counter-Terrorism: Finance

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's counter-terrorism budget was in 2011-12.

Nick Harvey: Funds are allocated to Defence Engagement Counter Terrorism (CT) activities under the Defence Assistance Fund (DAF). The total budget for the CT element of the (DAF(CT)) for financial year 2011-12 was agreed at £2.42 million.

Diamond Jubilee 2012: Medals

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the information held on the Joint Personnel Administration system is sufficient to ascertain whether a member of the reserve forces is eligible to receive the Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 16 January 2012
	The information held on the Joint Personnel Administration system (JPA) is sufficient to identify whether a member of the reserve forces is eligible to receive the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal, provided individuals and units have effectively maintained their JPA profiles. Any individual who believes they are entitled to the medal and have not received one by the National Thanksgiving Service on 5 June 2012 will be able to appeal to the Ministry of Defence Medal Office.

Ex-servicemen: Health Services

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2011, Official Report, column 962W, on Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, whether patients referred to the medical assessment programme presenting with physical health problems will no longer be eligible for support under the programme.

Andrew Robathan: The Medical Assessment Programme offers mental health assessments rather than physical ones as the number of physical health referrals fell to a very low level. However, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 19 December 2011, Official Report,
	column 962W. The Ministry of Defence continues to provide advice should a GP or 1990-91 Gulf veteran require information on Gulf health issues.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many joint strike fighters his Department plans to purchase; and when he expects such aircraft to be first delivered to the Royal Navy.

Peter Luff: As announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) we plan to deliver a Carrier Strike capability from around 2020. We have yet to make final decisions on the timing and overall numbers of the F-35C aircraft we intend to order and will not do so before the next planned SDSR.
	In line with our usual practice, we will not set a firm in-service date for the aircraft until after our next Main Gate decision, currently planned for 2013.

Libya: Bombs

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the presence of unexploded ordnance left by British Forces in Libya during World War Two.

Nick Harvey: We have not specifically assessed the presence of unexploded world war two ordnance in Libya. However, we are working with the UN and international partners to address the very serious issue of unexploded ordnance and weapons contamination caused during the recent uprising. This is preventing Libyan people from returning to their homes and we are urging our allies to increase their contribution to the UN Mine Action Service and other NGOs in order to help the stabilisation and reconstruction of Libya.

Military Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many BAe 146 aircraft he intends to lease; and at what cost.

Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence does not currently intend to lease any BAe 146 aircraft.
	Approval has been obtained from the Treasury to investigate the potential purchase of two BAe 146 aircraft in response to an urgent operational requirement specifically to support operations in Afghanistan. Expressions of interest were sought on 21 December 2011 with the intention of tendering in late January 2012.

Royal Artillery

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  which of the Royal Artillery's six close support regiments will be disbanded; and when such closures will take place;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the potential saving to the public purse of the disbandment of a Royal Artillery close support regiment.

Nick Harvey: The Defence Transformation announcement of 18 July 2011 set out our strategic long-term direction on the structure of the Army and its basing requirements across the United Kingdom. It also included the outcome of the review into Reserve Forces "Future Reserves 2020", which, if the Territorial Army develops in the way we intend, will allow a progressive adjustment of the regular/reserve balance of the Army over the coming decade.
	This is a complex piece of work which requires the Army to review and rebalance its structure and to identify when and how these changes can be made. This detailed work is now under way but no decisions have as yet been taken.
	This detailed work is expected to be completed during 2012.

Somalia: Piracy

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on use of force onshore against pirates in Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: Any use of force by the military must be reasonable, necessary and proportionate and comply with applicable international law. Applicable international law includes UN Security Resolution 1851(2008)(renewed). Any further details remain classified for reasons of operational security.

Submarines

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made in negotiating with BAE Systems to achieve the Government's target of reducing the cost of submarine contracts by £900 million over the next decade.

Peter Luff: The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review announced that the Submarine Enterprise Performance programme (SEPP) was expected to deliver over £900 million of savings over the next ten years. SEPP will enable the three tier 1 suppliers within the submarine enterprise, BAE Systems Maritime—Submarines, Rolls-Royce and Babcock, to work collaboratively with the Ministry of Defence to transform the way the enterprise is delivered and managed.
	In May 2011 a Joint Programme Office was established, which brings together expertise from the four parties to develop and manage a joint view of the submarine programme, and in October 2011 the four parties signed a joint memorandum of understanding (MOU) that enshrines the overarching principles for the programme. Negotiations are continuing within this framework, and individual MOUs will be agreed with each tier 1 supplier on how their SEPP contribution will be delivered; the BAE Systems MOU is expected to be signed in the spring of 2012.

Tornado Aircraft: Repairs and Maintenance

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what product is used to wash Tornado jet screens and windows; who provides it; and how much was spent on this product by his Department in each of the last five financial years;
	(2)  what (a) the guidelines are and (b) the regularity is of wash bottles for Tornado jets being replenished; and whether (i) his Department and (ii) the Royal Air Force have decided to (A) stop and (B) decrease the frequency of such replenishment.

Peter Luff: holding answer 16 January 2012
	AL-36 Kilfrost WWF/Mod3 is the windscreen wash fluid used on Tornado aircraft and is supplied by Kilfrost Ltd. AL-36 has a number of different uses within the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
	Procurement costs of AL-36 for the entire MOD, rounded to the nearest £100, are contained in the following table. I am unable to break this figure down to show cost of stocks that were then issued from centrally procured holdings to Tornado GR4 Force units.
	
		
			  Cost of MOD procurement of AL-36 (£) 
			 2007 (from October) 9,000 
			 2008 26,200 
			 2009 28,900 
			 2010 30,400 
			 2011 46,300 
		
	
	All Tornado wash bottles are checked in accordance with the Tornado Master Maintenance Manual, which stipulates they are replenished at every ‘After Flight’ servicing and all windscreens and canopies are cleaned by flight servicing personnel immediately prior to each flight. The Department has neither stopped, nor decreased the frequency of, the Tornado Windscreen Wash Bottle replenishment.

UK National Codification Bureau

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many (a) service personnel and (b) civilians were employed at the UK National Codification Bureau in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what plans he has to relocate the UK National Codification Bureau to Abbey Wood;
	(3)  what the annual personnel costs were for the UK National Codification Bureau in each of the last five years.

Andrew Robathan: We are considering the future size, shape and location of the UK National Codification Bureau (UKNCB) and the Engineering and Through Life Support (ETLS) Team, which works alongside the UKNCB. This includes the possibility of locating the UKNCB and the ELTS Team to MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol alongside its parent organisation and main user of its services: Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S). However, no final decisions will be taken until the outcome of a value for money study is known and trade unions consultation has been completed. The study is expected to report in February 2012.
	Information on the number of civilian posts in the UKNCB and the ETLS Team is contained in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial year UKNCB ETLS Team 
			 2007-08 69 (1)— 
			 2008-09 54 (2)11 
			 2009-10 54 (2)11 
		
	
	
		
			 2010-11 (3)58 (2)11 
			 2011-12 (3)58 (2)11 
			 (1) Information for 2007-08 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. (2) Includes posts at MOD Abbey Wood: two posts in 2008-09 and three posts in each subsequent year. (3) This includes 13 posts at MOD Abbey Wood relocated from DE&S sites (other than Glasgow) as part of the wider DE&S Collocation Project. Note: No service personnel are employed in either team. 
		
	
	Manpower costs for the last three full financial years are contained in the following table:
	
		
			 £ million 
			 Financial year UKNCB ETLS Team 
			 2008-09 1.8 0.4 
			 2009-10 1.6 0.4 
			 2010-11 1.6 0.4 
			 Note: Information for 2006-07 and 2007-08 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

War Pensions: Tribunals

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what costs his Department has incurred in respect of the ionising radiation appeals at the war pensions tribunals in respect of (a) solicitors, (b) barristers, (c) experts fees and (d) other costs to date;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the projected costs of the ionising radiation appeal hearings at the War Pension Tribunal in January 2012.

Andrew Robathan: To date the Ministry of Defence has been notified of bills as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			 Solicitors 142,934 
			 Barristers 151,798 
			 Experts 32,587 
			 Other costs 89,639 
			 Total 416,958 
		
	
	These figures exclude VAT and do not include the cost of any associated MOD resourcing or obtaining security clearances for individuals involved in the cases.
	Due to matters outside the MOD's control it is difficult to estimate future costs at this time. We are still awaiting confirmation of a hearing date for the ionising radiation appeal.
	We remain keen to work with the tribunal and appellants with a view to ensuring that costs relating to all war pensions appeals are proportionate and kept to a minimum.

Wellington Barracks: Repairs and Maintenance

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will order the repainting of the facade of Wellington Barracks.

Andrew Robathan: There are no plans at the current time for the façade of Wellington Barracks to be repainted. In the current economic climate spending on the defence estate must be prioritised.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total support to agriculture her Department provided to each parliamentary constituency in 2011.

James Paice: Details of financial support under Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) schemes in the UK may be found on the following website:
	http://cap-payments.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx
	These data relate to the CAP budget year running from 16 October 2009 to 15 October 2010. Data for the 2010-11 budget year are expected to be available on the website in April this year.
	Unfortunately, following a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), EU law currently only allows us to publish this information for recipients of support who are defined as legal persons; data on natural persons may not be published. This significantly limits the coverage of the available data (legal persons make up less than 10% of the total number of recipients and account for around 20% of the total funding). The Government are committed to full transparency in the use of CAP funds and is pressing the European Commission to propose new legal requirements that would allow us to publish relevant data on all recipients, while addressing the concerns set out in the CJEU judgment.
	The data on the above website can be sorted by postcode area, but including information about parliamentary constituency would require a separate exercise which could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the oral answer of 13 October 2011, Official Report, column 468, on wild animals in circuses, what the international legal responsibilities are which prevent a ban on wild animals in circuses.

James Paice: The House has previously heard that the legal advice we have taken indicates that there is a strong risk that a ban could contravene either article 16 of the European Services Directive 2006 and Article 1 Protocol 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which was given further effect by the Human Rights Act 1998 and which sets out the conditions which must be met by a state which seeks to restrict or control the use a person may make of his own property.
	We are working to overcome the legal obstacles; in the meantime, the Government continues to develop regulations for a licensing scheme for the welfare of wild animals in travelling circuses.

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with her international counterparts on the effectiveness of licensing systems for the use of animals in circuses.

James Paice: We are aware that there are some other countries with licensing systems that cover the use of animals in circuses. Given that we have the experience of a number of animal welfare focused licensing schemes already operating effectively in England and the information on experience elsewhere we have not found it necessary to hold discussions with international ministerial counterparts.

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the recent decision by the Austrian Constitutional Court, when she plans to introduce a licensing scheme for the use of wild animals in circuses; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The judgment of the Austrian Constitutional Court was published on 21 December 2011 and we are considering its relevance to the legal position here.

Animal Welfare: Farms

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what definition her Department uses of higher welfare of farm animals; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: There is no formal definition of “higher welfare standards”. The Government are however keen to see a consistent approach to high animal welfare standards across the EU.

Animal Welfare: Licensing

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the potential effect of her Department's cormorant licensing policy in England on cormorant populations in special protection areas in England, Scotland and Wales;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the level of illegal killing of cormorants;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Wetland Bird Survey in monitoring cormorant population trends in response to licensed killing;
	(4)  what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of licensed killing of cormorants in (a) reducing and (b) preventing serious damage to fisheries.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA is currently undertaking a review of cormorant licensing policy in England. This review is assessing current licensing policy in relation to the management of cormorants where they are causing, or are likely to cause, serious damage to inland fisheries. As part of this review consideration is being given to the impact of any revision to the current policy on: cormorant populations in Special Protection Areas; the level of unlawful lethal control of cormorants; the adequacy of the Wetland Bird Survey in monitoring cormorant population trends in response to licensed killing; and the effectiveness of licensed killing of cormorants in reducing and preventing serious damage to fisheries.
	A document detailing the scope and aims of the review is available on the DEFRA website. The outcome of the review is expected to be published this summer.

Animal Welfare: Licensing

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cormorants were killed under licence in England in winter 2010-11.

Richard Benyon: 1,798 cormorants were killed under licence in England for the season that ran from 1 September 2010 to 15 April 2011.

Batteries: Recycling

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure that the UK meets the 2012 target for battery recycling under the EU Battery Directive; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The EU Batteries Directive has been transposed in the UK by the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 (SI 890) in a manner intended to ensure achievement of the 2012 target for the collection of waste portable batteries. The regulations establish a system of producer responsibility which requires each producer of portable batteries, apart from small producers who place one tonne or less on the market each year, to finance the net costs arising from the collection, treatment and recycling of its share of all portable batteries collected in the UK. The producer's share of the net costs is equal to the specified percentage (the collection target for a given year) of the average annual quantity, in tonnes, of portable batteries placed on the market in the UK by the producer.
	Furthermore, regulation 8 establishes interim collection targets for 2010 and 2011. The Environment Agency carries out regular checks on progress against these targets to ensure we remain on track to meeting the 2012 target established by the directive and identify whether corrective action is necessary.

Birds: Nature Conservation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which bird species have been identified by her Department as being in danger of becoming extinct as a breeding species in England by 2020.

Richard Benyon: We have not specifically identified a list of bird species in danger of becoming extinct as a breeding species in England by 2020. However, under section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, DEFRA publishes a list of species of principal importance for conservation in England. There are 49 species of birds included in this list. Although not necessarily at risk of extinction in England by 2020, these are the species found in England which have been identified as priorities for conservation action. This list will inform conservation action under Biodiversity 2020, the biodiversity strategy for England 2011-20.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many mammals other than cattle were identified with or slaughtered for bovine tuberculosis as a result of (a) microbial culture sample, (b) reports from local veterinary practitioners, (c) gross pathology examinations by veterinary investigation centres, (d) disclosing diagnostic tests including intradermal skin or blood assays and (e) reports from Meat Hygiene Service examinations at abattoirs in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007, (iii) 2008, (iv) 2009 and (v) 2010.

James Paice: The risk to non-bovine species from TB is assessed as generally low and the surveillance system is therefore proportionate to these risks. This means figures are not collected or broken down by the specific categories the hon. Member has requested. Moreover, these scenarios are not mutually exclusive for a particular case and it would be difficult to allocate each case to one of these scenarios. In addition, TB in non-bovine species is not considered to have been “identified” until positive culture results are confirmed.
	Figures from 1997 on the annual number of total samples from non-bovine animals that are (a) processed by the AVHLA laboratories and (b) found positive for M. bovis infection, are broken down by species and are available on DEFRA's website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/files/defra-stats-foodfarm-landuselivestock-tb-other-otherspecies-111124.xls
	(These figures do not include the number of animals slaughtered from a herd where TB has been confirmed when M. bovis is not cultured from that animal.)

Bovine Tuberculosis

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions her Department has invoiced (a) members of the public and (b) owners of mammals other than bovines for post-mortems on animals suspected of having bovine tuberculosis in each of the last five years.

James Paice: DEFRA does not invoice members of the public and owners of non-bovine animals for the cost of post-mortem examinations conducted on animals where a reasonable suspicion of TB infection exists.
	The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency occasionally receive badgers for a privately funded examination for TB. There were 14 such badgers in the last five years (2007 to 2011 inclusive).

British Waterways

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the funding requirement of British Waterways in the next 10 years; how much funding her Department is planning to provide following the transfer of British Waterways to the charitable sector; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The Government are committed to a sustainable and prosperous future for inland waterways. A new waterways charity, the Canal and River Trust (CRT), will take over responsibility for inland waterways operated by British Waterways in England and Wales. The Government will give the new charity the best start it can afford. The Government have already agreed to transfer the British Waterways property portfolio, valued at about £460 million, to CRT.
	The Government are negotiating a long term funding agreement with the Trustees of the CRT. Those negotiations are considering a range of issues which could impact on the future funding of the canal network.
	The outcome of the negotiations will be announced before the Government lays the necessary order under the Public Bodies Act to transfer British Waterways' functions to CRT.

Canal and River Trust

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanisms will be in place to ensure that the business plan for the Canal and River Trust is sustainable and financially viable.

Richard Benyon: British Waterways is carrying out financial analysis by preparing financial projections for the Canal and River Trust (CRT) based on various sets of assumptions. This analysis is work in progress and is not yet complete due to the ongoing negotiations between Government and the CRT transition Trustees on the funding agreement. A business plan will be prepared when the funding position is more certain.
	Financial sustainability is assessed by projecting the future condition of the infrastructure assets and the standard of maintenance of the waterways and comparing these against target standards. The financial projections, projected future asset condition and maintenance standards will be considered by the CRT transition Trustees as part of their due diligence supporting the formation of the new Trust.

Coastal Erosion: Bournemouth

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress her Department has made on the plans to protect Hengistury Head from further sea erosion; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: Bournemouth borough council is the competent Coastal Erosion Risk Management Authority for Bournemouth and led on the recent Shoreline Management Plan for this area. The policy (Hold the Line) for the Hengistbury Head Long Groyne, considers that the Groyne will require future improvements to sustain levels of protection against coastal erosion and flooding.
	Bournemouth borough council and the Environment Agency are working together as part of the Poole Bay Strategy. This aims to include the eventual long-term replacement of the Long Groyne and the managed realignment of the adjacent coastline at Solent Beach and Double Dykes. This alignment may be forwards or backwards of the existing line. This strategy is due to go to public consultation in 2012-13.
	Bournemouth borough council has submitted a funding bid for a 10-year sustainable management plan for the Hengistbury Head Long Groyne and Bournemouth beach frontage.

Departmental Design

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contracts her Department has awarded for design services since May 2010; and what information her Department holds on the location of such companies.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA has identified the following contracts that have been awarded since May 2010 where design was a key element of the purpose of the contract. The design services identified fall into three categories—Publicity, Facility Management Services and Exhibition Stands. DEFRA holds only the address each company uses to administer its contracts.
	
		
			 Publicity 
			 Contract title Company name 
			 Designing and publication of the New Waterways Charity consultation document Communisis Print Management Services. Wakefield Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1DU 
			 Design of Marine Planning diagrams, maps and planning newsletters relating to RIMA Design Communisis Print Management Services. Wakefield Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1DU 
			 Darwin Annual report—Design and Printing Communisis Print Management Services. Wakefield Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1DU 
			 Design and print of Well Being Leaflet Communisis Print Management Services. Wakefield Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1DU 
			 Design and Print Business card for climate change adaptation campaign Communisis Print Management Services. Wakefield Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1DU 
			 Typesetting and Printing (Miscellaneous design and artwork) Communisis Print Management Services. Wakefield Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1DU 
			 Soil Protection Review, typesetting and amendments Communisis Print Management Services. Wakefield Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1DU 
			 Amendment to DEFRA Public Appointments Forms Communisis Print Management Services. Wakefield Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1DU 
			 Updating DEFRA Brand Guidelines Communisis Print Management Services. Wakefield Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1DU 
			 Design and artwork for a 52 page analytical report 48pp and 4pp cover Promotional Logistics Ltd, Milner Road, Chilton Industrial Estate, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2XG 
			 Covers—design and artwork for 3 x A4 report covers  
		
	
	
		
			 Fishing Focus Summer 2011 Promotional Logistics Ltd, Milner Road, Chilton Industrial Estate, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2XG 
			 Waste Review Design Promotional Logistics Ltd, Milner Road, Chilton Industrial Estate, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2XG 
			 Redesign of EPE survey form 2010 Promotional Logistics Ltd, Milner Road, Chilton Industrial Estate, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2XG 
			 Leaflet and poster design for The Big Tree Plant—Central Office of Information Central Office of Information, Hercules House, Hercules Rd, London SE1 7DU 
			 UK Location Programme Annual Report—editorial, design and technical input and advice RSW Geomatics Ltd, 8 Audley Close, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 6UJ 
			 Drinking Water Inspectorate annual report—design and proof reading CDS Leeds, 7 Eastgate, Leeds, LS2 7LY 
		
	
	
		
			 Facility Management Services 
			 Contract title Company name 
			 Health and Safety works to design, manufacture, install ETP Commission specialist manufacturer to provide quotation Interserve (Facilities Management) Ltd, Capital Tower, 91 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8RT 
			 Design of an humidification system Interserve (Facilities Management) Ltd, Capital Tower, 91 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8RT 
			 East Parade. To take initial space plan option and develop into a full design by surveying Interserve (Facilities Management) Ltd, Capital Tower, 91 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8RT 
			 Design of AH Packing Room at Sand Hutton Interserve (Facilities Management) Ltd, Capital Tower, 91 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8RT 
			 Design of AH Packing Room at Wallingford Interserve (Facilities Management) Ltd, Capital Tower, 91 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8RT 
			 Ashford Epps Building. Design for Animal Health packing room at Cold Harbour Farm. Move to consolidate DEFRA Agencies and aid disposal programme Interserve (Facilities Management) Ltd, Capital Tower, 91 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8RT 
			 Redesign of a Laboratory to incorporate safe areas for new cutting, edge, specialised, laser capture technology Interserve (Facilities Management) Ltd, Capital Tower, 91 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8RT 
			 Whitehall Place, Westminster 21st Century to design/supply and install a new PA system Interserve (Facilities Management) Ltd, Capital Tower, 91 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8RT 
			 Feasibility/design study to prevent Pressurized vessel and associated pipe work from freezing this winter Interserve (Facilities Management) Ltd, Capital Tower, 91 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8RT 
			 Food and Environment Research Agency, YORK Initial programme design and costs for Block 16 3rd party works Interserve (Facilities Management) Ltd, Capital Tower, 91 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8RT 
			 Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science. Detail design of business suite and remodelling of Pakefield Rd site Interserve (Facilities Management) Ltd, Capital Tower, 91 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8RT 
		
	
	
		
			 Exhibition Stands 
			 Contract title Company name 
			 Design and production of the DEFRA stands at the two 2010 National Sheep Association shows ADB (International) Ltd, Unit 5-7, Hamilton Studios, Deep Pit Road, Speedwell, Bristol, BS5 7UF

Departmental Equality

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what equality impact assessments her Department has carried out since May 2010; and for what purpose in each case.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA has undertaken equality impact assessments since they became a legal requirement in 2005. Under the Equality Act (2010) there is now no legal obligation on public bodies to complete equality impact assessments, but DEFRA has committed to continue to complete equality assessments as good business practice.
	Between May 2010 and December 2011 DEFRA completed 24 equality impact assessments (EqIAs):
	
		
			 Business area Name of EqIA Date 
			 Strategic HR Code of Conduct May 2010 
			 Strategic HR Individual Development Appraisal May 2010 
			 Strategic HR Joiners and Leavers process June 2010 
			 Food and Farming Group TB Badger Control Policy September 2010 
			 Strategic HR Childcare Strategy September 2010 
			 Environment and Rural Group Rural Development Plan for England—policy revisions post 2010 spending review Initial screening November 2010 
			 Farming for the Future Portfolio Responsibility and Cost Sharing Programme November 2010 
			 Strategic HR Managing Attendance Policy November 2010 
			 Finance (Ongoing Function/Performance Programme) Merger of the Internal Audit and Assurance Teams December 2010 
			 Landscapes and The Big Tree Plant (Tree Planting December 
		
	
	
		
			 Outdoor Recreation Campaign) 2010 
			 Environment and Rural Group Reform of English fisheries management arrangements December 2010 
			 Strategic HR Initial screening voluntary exit scheme February 2011 
			 Waste Management Review of waste policies February 2011 
			 Waste Management Hazardous Waste National Policy Statement March 2011 
			 Strategic HR Full assessment voluntary exit screening May 2011 
			 Atmosphere and Local Environment Programme Technical Guidance notes June 2011 
			 Legal Proposed changes to structure of DEFRA Legal by transferring staff to the Crown Prosecution Service. June 2011 
			 Water Abolition of the Inland Waterways Advisory Council Consultation June 2011 
			 Change Programme DEFRA Change programme June 2011 
			 Strategic HR Additional Paternity Leave and Pay Regulations Policy June 2011 
			 Marine and Natural Environment New technical management measures for scallop dredging in English waters (English Scallop Order) August 2011 
			 Food and Farming Group Task Force on Farming Regulation: CPH Review Workstream September 2011 
			 Natural Environment Economics Rural Economy Growth Review October 2011 
			 Communications Internal restructure October 2011

Departmental Manpower

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many speechwriters her Department employs at each pay grade.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA employs one member of staff who writes speeches for Ministers, along with other duties. Her pay grade is Senior Information Officer.

Departmental Procurement

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what procedures her Department has put in place to ensure value for money on purchases; and what savings have been realised through use of such procedures in the last year.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA complies with the Cabinet Office central spending controls to ensure value for money on purchases. These are set out in my answer of 11 January 2012, Official Report, columns 359-62W, to the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Owen Smith). In addition, core DEFRA is continually improving its purchasing systems to deliver greater value for money.
	Not all the savings realised will be attributable to these controls and improvements, however overall procurement expenditure in core DEFRA in the year to October 2011 was £368,371,348—around 2% less than initial estimates. This is approximately 20% lower than in the previous year in which £459,362,066 was spent from November 2009 to October 2010.

Departmental Responsibilities

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at how many events organised by (a) charities, (b) other civil society groups, (c) businesses and (d) lobbying organisations Ministers and senior officials in her Department have given speeches in each month since May 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA does not record ministerial or senior official speeches by the specific categories of organisation requested and to provide the detailed information would incur disproportionate cost.
	However, the Department publishes speeches given by Ministers on the departmental website at the following link:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/category/speeches/
	Details of the Permanent Secretary's meetings with external organisations dating back to 1 October 2010 can also be found on the website at the following link:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/about/who/management/

Departmental Voluntary Work

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volunteering (a) she and (b) other Ministers in her Department have undertaken as part of the One Day Challenge; what the nature of the work undertaken was; on what dates it took place; and what the names were of the organisations assisted.

Richard Benyon: All DEFRA Ministers have pledged to undertake the One Day Challenge to give time to help others. The following is a list of activities undertaken to date:
	
		
			  Date Location Volunteer work 
			 Secretary of State 29 October 2011 Knowle For 'Marie Curie Make a Difference Day' 
			  28 October 2011 The Priory, Solihull Recording a Talking Magazine greeting 
			  14 October 2011 Mell Square, Solihull Bible reading for 'Bible 4 Life' 
			  1 October 2011 Knowle Parish Church Litter pick 
		
	
	
		
			 Jim Paice 16 September 2011 Jarman Centre, Newmarket Q&A with Waterbeach Brownies 
			     
			 Richard Benyon 3 August 2011 Ashampsted Common Clearing scrub and ragwort for the Friends of the Pang, Kennet and Lambourn Valleys 
		
	
	My noble Friend the Lord Taylor will undertake the Challenge this year.

Dogs

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has any plans to introduce a minimum age for dog ownership.

James Paice: The Government have no plans to introduce a minimum age for dog ownership. I consider that the existing law which makes it an offence to sell a pet animal to anyone under the age of 16 provides the necessary safeguards.

Dogs

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has any plans to require owners of breeding dogs to be accredited.

James Paice: The independent Advisory Council on the Welfare Issues of Dog Breeding (DAC) was set up to make recommendations about ways to improve the health and welfare of dogs bred and sold in this country. The DAC has been meeting with key stakeholders on this issue and the Government will consider any recommendations the DAC make for improving the health and welfare of dogs bred in this country.

Dogs: Tagging

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what research her Department has undertaken on compulsory microchipping;
	(2)  what plans she has to improve protection from dangerous dogs; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: DEFRA is considering a number of options to promote more responsible ownership of dogs and reduce the number of dog attacks. One option being considered, and which has been discussed with key stakeholders, is the issue of compulsory microchipping of dogs. While the main purpose of microchipping is to promote good welfare by helping to reunite dogs with their owners should they become lost or stolen, the ability to link dog with owner also serves as an example of responsible ownership. The Government will make an announcement on ways of promoting more responsible ownership of dogs and reducing dog attacks shortly.

Ecosystem Markets Task Force

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the work of the Ecosystem Markets Task Force.

Richard Benyon: The Ecosystem Markets Task Force is one of the Government's key commitments from the Natural Environment White Paper, “The Natural Choice”. The Task Force, which is independent, will report by March 2013 to the Secretaries of State for: Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable); Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne); and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman). It will review opportunities for UK businesses from expanding green goods, services, products, investment vehicles, and markets which value and protect nature. My fellow Ministers and I have been very interested in its progress, and in recent months the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has met the Chair of the Task Force, Ian Cheshire, and attended the Task Force's launch event.

Eggs: EU Law

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to take steps to block products containing eggs from import from countries that are not compliant with the welfare of laying hens directive.

James Paice: The UK's enforcement strategy of the welfare of laying hens directive is set out in the written ministerial statement laid in the House on 6 December 2011, Official Report, columns 15-19WS.

Environmental Protection Act 1990

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice she has received on compliance of her Department's proposed contaminated land statutory guidance with Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Richard Benyon: Authorisation to issue statutory guidance under Part 2A of the Contaminated Land Regime is given to the Secretary of State according to section 78YA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as amended by section 57 of the Environment Act 1995.

Fisheries: Licensing

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with food retailers on the implications of a suspension of the Marine Stewardship Council's licence for mackerel fishing.

Richard Benyon: Neither the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), nor I have had direct discussions with food retailers on the implications of a suspension of the Marine Stewardship Council's certification of the North East Atlantic mackerel fisheries. I am aware, however, of this issue and DEFRA officials are in discussion with some of the major retailers, the British Retail Consortium and representatives of the processing sector on this and related issues on the ongoing dispute on the management of the mackerel fishery.
	Suspension of certification is a serious concern for food retailers and other industry sectors. It is deeply regrettable that the actions of others jeopardise certification after such good work by our industries to build the stock to its current healthy state.
	I take this situation very seriously and the possible removal of certification makes finding a solution to the mackerel dispute all the more important. As the most important fishery to the UK in economic terms, it is vitally important that the sustainable future of the stock is assured.
	I will ensure that a dialogue with all affected industry sectors is maintained as this issue progresses, to ensure that UK interests are properly represented and seek to ensure that withdrawal of certification is avoided.

Fisheries: Navy

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department provides funding towards meeting the cost of operating the UK's fishery patrol vessels.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA does not provide any direct funding for the Royal Navy's Fisheries Protection Squadron. It does provide grant in aid funding for the Marine Management Organisation, which currently contracts the Royal Navy to provide surface surveillance activities to enforce the common fisheries policy.

Fisheries: Subsidies

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of special report No. 12/2011 by the European Court of Auditors on the European Fisheries Fund.

Richard Benyon: The European Court of Auditors (ECA) undertook an audit during the period May to October 2010.
	The special report identified a failing of European Fisheries Fund regulation to define the eligibility criteria for all projects under Article 25 of EC 1198/2006: Investments on board fishing vessels and selectivity. This is specifically in relation to having no definition of a vessel's 'ability' to catch fish. Further analytical work for all member states was commissioned in December 2011. Consultation is ongoing and this information will be available later this month.
	The special report is currently being reviewed. A specific Audit of the UK decommissioning scheme was carried out by the ECA which informed this overall EU study. There may be aspects of the special report which are not within the context of UK Audit findings. All 27 recommendations of the UK audit have been considered and addressed with the exception of post implementation evaluation of decommissioning in Scotland, which is due in early 2012.

Floods: Insurance

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what progress has been made by the working party formed after the Flood Summit in September 2010;
	(2)  what progress has been made on identifying a replacement for the Statement of Principles between the Association of British Insurers and the Government before its expiry.

Richard Benyon: Since the Statement of Principles was last renewed in 2008, it has always been intended that this would be the last renewal and that the current agreement would expire on 30 June 2013. Following the Flood Summit we held in September 2010, three working groups were set up to look at insurance models for flood risk, improving flood risk data, and property-level resistance and resilience. The groups' findings were published in December 2011.
	At the same time, we announced that beyond the expiry of the Statement of Principles in 2013, the Government will continue to invest to reduce the risk of flooding, especially for those households at the highest flood risk and living in the most deprived communities.
	A new shared understanding is being developed that sets out more clearly what individual customers can expect from their insurer and from Government. It will reflect the continued responsibility and commitment of Government and insurers to making sure insurance for flood risk remains widely available.
	Over the next few months we will consider the case for additional measures to help safeguard the affordability of flood insurance for those groups that might struggle most with premium increases. We plan to make further announcements in the spring.

Food: Additives

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to encourage producers to reduce preservatives and additives in children's food.

Anne Milton: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department of Health.
	The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has responsibility for food additives issues.
	All food additives, including preservatives, are thoroughly tested for safety prior to approval and have been reviewed by independent expert bodies. European Union legislation restricts the use of additives to certain categories of foods and specified levels. These limits ensure that the amount consumed does not exceed safe levels, for all age groups, and that the level in food is the minimum necessary to achieve the intended purpose.
	Following a study commissioned by the FSA, and conducted by Southampton university, to see if six specific colours had any effect on children's behaviour, United Kingdom Ministers and the FSA asked the UK food industry for a voluntary withdrawal on the use of those six colours. In addition, foods containing these colours are required to be labelled with a warning that they may have an adverse effect on children's behaviour.
	With the exception of these colours, we are advised by the FSA that there are no plans to encourage food producers to further reduce additives in food at this stage.

Food: Salt

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to encourage food producers to reduce levels of salt in food products.

Anne Milton: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department of Health.
	Work to reduce salt in food is being taken forward under the Public Health Responsibility Deal (RD). A wide range of businesses including retailers, manufacturers and caterers have committed to the following salt reduction pledge to deliver a substantial reduction in the salt content of United Kingdom foodstuffs:
	“We commit to the salt targets for the end of 2012 agreed by the Responsibility Deal, which collectively will deliver a further 15% reduction on 2010 targets. For some products, this will require acceptable technical solutions which we are working to achieve. These targets will give a total salt reduction of nearly lg per person per day compared to 2007 levels in food. We recognise that achieving the public health goal of consuming no more than 6g of salt per person per day will necessitate action across the whole industry, Government, NGOs and individuals.”
	Around 70 organisations have already committed to the salt pledge.
	The RD salt targets have been developed for 80 specific food groups that contribute most to population salt intakes and are to be achieved by the end of 2012.

Food: Waste

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to strengthen phase 2 of the Courtauld Commitment to reduce levels of household food waste.

Richard Benyon: Phase 2 of the Courtauld Commitment targets a reduction in UK household food and drink waste of 4% by December 2012, compared with 2009, along with targets on the carbon impact of packaging and supply chain waste. The targets for Phase 2 have been carefully developed to be sufficiently challenging, yet taking into account what is realistically achievable over the period of the agreement, including accounting for predicted market growth.
	On 5 December 2011, the DEFRA funded Waste Review and Action Programme (WRAP) published interim results covering the first year (2009-10) of Courtauld Phase 2. We have made very good progress towards the target on household food waste with a 3% reduction in household food waste in the first year of the agreement (2010 compared with 2009).
	The 2011 Waste Review committed the Government to establishing the potential for a successor to Phase 2 of the Courtauld Commitment with businesses in the food retail and manufacturing sector. We will be exploring options over the coming months.

Hen Harriers: Nature Conservation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether an action plans is in place to prevent the extinction of the hen harrier as a breeding species in England.

Richard Benyon: A number of actions are being taken to help improve the status of the hen harrier.
	Raptor persecution is a National Wildlife Crime Priority, with the hen harrier being one of six species highlighted for special attention. DEFRA officials are involved with the Environment Council facilitated Hen Harrier Dialogue Working Group, which provides an opportunity for Government and other stakeholders to engage in finding sustainable solutions to improve hen harrier population growth alongside the needs of grouse moor managers. In addition, the Langholm Moor Demonstration Project, supported by many of those involved in the dialogue, is trialling methods, such as diversionary feeding, that might enable an economically viable grouse moor and healthy hen harrier population to co-exist.
	The hen harrier is also included on the list of priority species in England published by DEFRA under section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.

Landfill Tax

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely effect of increasing landfill tax on levels of food waste sent to landfill; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: We estimate the tonnage of food waste sent to landfill will fall by around 14% between 2011 and 2016. This estimate takes account of all policies, not just landfill tax, but does not include policies announced as part of the 2011 Review of Waste Policy in England. Policies on food waste in the review, such as a new voluntary agreement with the hospitality and food service sector, may have a further impact on the amount of food waste sent to landfill. The Government's long-term vision is that no food waste goes to landfill.
	Landfill tax will increase from £56 per tonne in 2011-12 to £64 per tonne in 2012-13, £72 per tonne in 2013-14 and £80 per tonne by 2015.

Poultry: Animal Welfare

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress her Department has made on its commitment to ban beak trimming by 2016.

James Paice: The Beak Trimming Action Group, comprising welfare groups, industry representatives, veterinarians, Government officials and academics, was reconvened in 2011 to work towards the Government's commitment to review the evidence in 2015, with a view to banning beak trimming in 2016. The group has identified and assessed the pros and cons of options aimed at delivering this commitment and is in the process of finalising its advice and recommended approach.

Poultry: Animal Welfare

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with the Ministry of Agriculture in France on enforcement of the laying hen regulations.

James Paice: As DEFRA Minister my officials and I have discussed enforcement in Brussels with the Commission and all member states, including the French Government, but no separate discussions have taken place.

Professor Tim Lang

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has (a) commissioned work from and (b) been advised by Professor Tim Lang.

Richard Benyon: Under this Government, Professor Tim Lang has not been commissioned to work for or advise the Department. As with other academics, we engage Professor Lang on an ad hoc basis to discuss policy related matters.

Seals: Conservation

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's policy is on support for international efforts to prohibit trade in harp seal fur.

James Paice: The Government acknowledges the widespread concern in the UK about the inhumane nature of seal hunting practices in many parts of the world. We welcome the introduction of Council Regulation 1007/2009 which introduced an EU ban on trade in seal products and will continue to support EU measures to prohibit this trade.

Sewers: Planning

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what legislative proposals she plans to bring forward to simplify the law governing the relative contributions of developers to existing water and sewerage infrastructure when new developments are built.

Richard Benyon: The recently published Water White Paper, ‘Water for Life’, confirms that the Ofwat and Cave reviews identified problems with how developers are charged for connecting to the water and sewerage infrastructure. The Government intend to increase the transparency of charges within these developer contributions. DEFRA officials are working with Ofwat to review the existing charging provisions and identify options for a simplified methodology that would enable a reduction in administrative burdens.

Sussex Wildlife Trust

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under which category of expenditure her Department funds the Sussex Wildlife Trust; and for what purpose.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA does not provide core funding to the Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT). However, the trust has received departmental funding for some particular purposes. In September 2011 DEFRA awarded SWT, on behalf of the Sussex Biodiversity Partnership, a one-off grant from the Local Nature Partnership capacity building fund to help it to explore the potential for a Local Nature Partnership in Sussex. In 2011-12 DEFRA's Biodiversity Programme provided funds for a small study to review and standardise the collection of information on occurrence of wild species and habitats in the south east of England. This project was led by the Sussex Biodiversity Records Centre, which is hosted by SWT. SWT also receives annual funding in respect of agri-environment agreements funded through the Rural Development Programme for England.
	SWT receives small grants from Natural England and the Environment Agency which both also fund the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre for ongoing supply of data on species and habitats to support conservation planning. Additionally, the Environment Agency plans to fund a partnership project between the SWT, the Environment Agency and the Woodland Trust which will deliver environmental improvements in the Sussex Ouse catchment.

Water Companies

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department will publish a white paper on the future of the water and sewerage industry.

Richard Benyon: The Water White Paper, “Water for Life”, was published on 8 December 2011. A copy of the Water White Paper can be found at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/water/legislation/whitepaper/

Water Supply: Israel

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has had discussions with (a) the Government of Israel and (b) Israeli companies on new techniques for efficient use of water.

Richard Benyon: I can confirm that none of the DEFRA Ministers have had discussions with either the Government of Israel or any Israeli companies regarding new techniques for efficient uses of water.

Water: Meters

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the effect of water impurities and particulates on the accuracy of mechanical water meters.

Richard Benyon: Impurities, such as grit or air, can get into the water network and cause problems with mechanical water meters. If a customer suspects inaccurate meter readings, most water companies will arrange for the meter to be tested. If the meter is found to be providing inaccurate readings, it is likely that the water company would arrange for repair or replacement, as estimates for repair/replacement cycles are factored into company Capital Expenditure investment programmes.
	The Water Industry's Research body has conducted relevant research in this area, in order to support more reliable and systematic testing of water meter accuracy.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to answer Question 77607, on applications from employees to run services for which her Department is directly responsible, tabled on 26 October 2011.

Richard Benyon: The answer to this question was given on 20 December 2011, Official Report, column 1104W. The delay was due to administrative errors.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to answer question 74828 on funding of civil society organisations, tabled on 11 October 2011 for answer on 13 October 2011; and what the reasons are for the time taken to answer.

Richard Benyon: The answer to this question was published on 11 January 2012, Official Report, column 376W. The delay was due to administrative errors.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Work Experience

Luciana Berger: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many companies participating in the Business Compact he expects to pay interns the national minimum wage.

Nicholas Clegg: The Business Compact encourages companies to offer financial support to their interns so that they are genuinely open to all young people and not just those from well off backgrounds.
	In many cases payment of the national minimum wage will be required under the law, and we are stepping up our communication and enforcement of the national minimum wage legislation in relation to interns. In other cases then the payment of expenses, eg for lunch and travel costs, will be a real help and we are encouraging that as a minimum.

Work Experience

Luciana Berger: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidelines he plans to provide to companies participating in the Business Compact on the definition of (a) an intern, (b) an internship and (c) the circumstances in which interns are legally entitled to be paid at the national minimum wage.

Nicholas Clegg: Guidance on the likely characteristics of internships and what an intern might expect from such a placement is outlined in the Common Best Practice Code for High Quality Internships published by the Gateway to the Professions Collaborative Forum:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/higher-education/docs/c/11-1068-common-best-practice-code-for-quality-internships.pdf
	Information and advice covering the circumstances in which interns are legally entitled to the national minimum wage is available on the Business Link website:
	http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1096811532&r.l1=1073858787&r.I2=1081657912&r .I3=1096811513&r.s=sc&type=RESOURCES

Work Experience

Luciana Berger: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish a copy of each letter he sent to companies asking them to participate in the Business Compact and the responses received.

Nicholas Clegg: Following the announcement of 115 signatories to the Social Mobility Business Compact on 12 January 2012, I wrote to some of the biggest employers and to other organisations in sectors historically difficult to get into. Businesses contacted range from leading law firms and financial institutions to key cultural and historic venues across Britain.
	A copy of the template letter sent to each of these businesses will be published on the Business Compact website at:
	www.dpm.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/businesscompact
	New signatories will be listed on the Business Compact website.

Work Experience

Luciana Berger: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what reporting mechanisms have been put in place to monitor businesses taking part in the Business Compact scheme.

Nicholas Clegg: The Business Compact is a voluntary agreement. Those businesses that have signed up have made a clear commitment to the Compact, highlighting the work they are doing to promote fair and open recruitment and encouraging others to follow suit.
	We are considering a range of light touch measures to encourage businesses and young people alike to bring any possible issues to our attention.

CABINET OFFICE

Aviation

Mark Field: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many people identified as migrants in the International Passenger Survey gave the reason for their visit as (a) a definite job to go to, (b) looking for work, (c) a working holiday, (d) a business trip, (e) accompany/join whose previous occupation was work and (f) other whose previous occupation was not ‘houseperson' or ‘retired' in each year from 2004 to 2010;
	(2)  how many of the people interviewed for the International Passenger Survey were identified as a (a) long-term and (b) short-term migrant in each year from 2004 to 2010;
	(3)  how many interviews with migrants did International Passenger Survey conducted in each year from 2004 to 2010; and what the (a) port of entry and (b) nationality was of each such interviewee.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to respond to your questions asking:
	1. How many people identified as migrants in the International Passenger Survey gave the reason for their visit as (a) a definite job to go to, (b) looking for work, (c) a working holiday, (d) a business trip, (e) accompany/join whose previous occupation was work and (f) other whose previous occupation was not 'houseperson' or' retired' in each year from 2004 to 2010
	2. How many of the people interviewed for the International Passenger Survey were identified as a (a) long-term and (b) short-term migrant in each year from 2004 to 2010
	3. How many interviews with migrants the International Passenger Survey (IPS) conducted in each year from 2004 to 2010; and what the (a) port of entry and (b) nationality was of each such interviewee
	Table 1 shows the number of long-term migrants identified in the IPS as having arrived in the UK by main reason for visit and previous occupation, per calendar year from 2004 to 2010.
	Table 2 shows the number of long-term migrants identified in the IPS as having arrived in the UK, per calendar year from 2004 to 2010. Similarly Table 3 shows the number of short-term migrants arrivals identified in the UK per calendar year from 2004 to 2008. This is the latest information available and has been produced for the UK and per calendar year for comparison purposes. Short-term migration estimates are published for England and Wales only and by mid-year.
	Table 4a and b show the port of entry and the citizenship of long-term migrants arriving in the UK, for calendar years from 2004 to 2010. The contacts provided refer to the number of people interviewed who were identified as migrants whose intention was to stay 12 months or longer.
	Copies of the tables have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Birth Rate: Greater London

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the birth rate was in (a) Poplar and Limehouse constituency, (b) the London borough of Tower Hamlets and (c) nationally in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the birth rate was in (a) Poplar and Limehouse constituency (b) the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, and (c) nationally, in the latest period for which figures are available. 89866
	The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has been supplied as this is the most useful measure of an area's fertility level. The TFR is the average number of live children that a group of women would each bear if they experienced the age-specific fertility rates of the calendar year in question throughout their childbearing lifespan.
	
		
			 Total fertility rate (TFR), selected areas, 2010 
			 Area TFR 
			 (a) Poplar and Limehouse constituency 1.88 
			 (b) Tower Hamlets London Borough 1.69 
			 (c) England and Wales 2.00

Census

John Spellar: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects the first assessment of the results of the 2011 Census to be published.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) I have been asked to reply to your recent question to the Minister for the Cabinet Office asking when the first assessment of the results of the 2011 Census will be published. (89952)
	The main field operation for the 2011 Census in England and Wales was completed at the end of May, and the significant task of processing and quality assuring the data is underway.
	A prospectus of the outputs to be produced from the Census will be published in March; current plans are to release the first results from the 2011 Census in England and Wales in July 2012. The results for Scotland and Northern Ireland will be published separately by National Records Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency respectively.
	The results will be published with information about the quality and the quality assurance process that ONS carried out prior to publication.

Childbirth: Wales

Jessica Morden: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many babies were born in Wales in 2011.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many babies were born in Wales in 2011 (90389).
	Figures for the number of live births to women usually resident in Wales are compiled from birth registration data. Figures for the whole of 2011 are not yet available.
	The following table provides the latest available figures, which are for the first two quarters of 2011:
	
		
			 Provisional numbers of live births to mothers usually resident in Wales, 2011 quarters 1 and 2 
			 2011 Live births (thousand) 
			 Quarter 1 8.7 
			 Quarter 2 8.8 
			 Note: Provisional data Source: Office for National Statistics 
		
	
	These data were published in November 2011 and are available at:
	www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/vital-statistics--population-and-health-reference-tables/winter-2011-update/quarterly-birth-and-death-tables.xls
	Provisional figures for quarter 3 of 2011 will be published in Spring 2012 and ONS intends to publish final quarterly and annual data for 2011 in July/August 2012.

Departmental Manpower

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many speechwriters his Department employs at each pay grade.

Francis Maude: The Cabinet Office employs two full-time speechwriters, one at TIS3 grade and the other at Band A. Pay grades are £36,371 to £47,167 and £44,300 to £59,885 respectively. The Cabinet Office also publishes this data. Figures for September 2011 can be found at:
	https://update.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/resources/CabinetOfficestaffandSalarydataSEPT2011 FINAL_juniordata.csv

Departmental Work Experience

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidelines his Department issues to its non-departmental public bodies on the employment of unpaid interns.

Francis Maude: We expect all Cabinet Office non-departmental public bodies to prioritise paid intern opportunities.
	From 1 April 2011 to 31 December 2011 the Cabinet Office's non-departmental public bodies employed no unpaid or expenses-only interns.

Employment

Hilary Benn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) pensioners and (b) people of working age there are in each parliamentary constituency in England.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) pensioners and (b) people of working age there are in each parliamentary constituency in England (90227).
	The table shows (a) the number of people aged 65 and over for men and 60 and over for women and (b) the number of people aged 16 to 64 for men and 16 to 59 for women for mid-2010. This is the latest year for which population estimates are available.
	The age groups given for pensioners in the table are the closest available approximation to state pension age at mid-2010 that can be obtained for population estimates by parliamentary constituency. On 30 June 2010 state pension age was 65 for men and 60 years and 57 days for women.
	Copies of the table have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	Mid-2010 population estimates for parliamentary constituencies in England were published as experimental statistics on 26 October 2011 and are the latest available. The estimates are available at:
	http://ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/sape/parliament-constituency-pop-est/mid-2010-release/index.html

Households: Greater London

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many single parent households there were in (a) Poplar and Limehouse constituency, (b) the London borough of Tower Hamlets and (c) nationally in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many single parent households there were in (a) Poplar and Limehouse constituency, (b) the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and (c) nationally in the latest period for which figures are available. 89864
	The number and type of households in the UK can be estimated using the Annual Population Survey. Estimates are provided for lone parent households with at least one dependent child. Dependent children are those living with their parent(s) and either (a) aged under 16, or (b) aged 16 to 18 in full-time education, excluding children aged 16 to 18 who have a spouse, partner or child living in the household.
	Data are shown for Poplar and Limehouse constituency, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the UK in 2010.
	
		
			 Lone parent households with dependent children in Poplar and Limehouse constituency, Tower Hamlets and the UK, 2010 
			 Area Estimate (thousand) 
			 Poplar and Limehouse 4 
			 Tower Hamlets 7 
			 UK 1,840 
		
	
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the Annual Population Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Households: Greater London

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average number of children per household was in (a) Poplar and Limehouse constituency, (b) the London borough of Tower Hamlets and (c) nationally in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the average number of children per household was in (a) Poplar and Limehouse constituency, (b) the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and (c) nationally in the latest period for which figures are available. 89868
	The number of households and children in the UK can be estimated using the Annual Population Survey. The figures below take account of dependent children, namely those living with their parent(s) and either (a) aged under 16, or (b) aged 16 to 18 in full-time education, excluding children aged 16 to 18 who have a spouse, partner or child living in the household.
	Two measures are shown: The average number of dependent children per household for all households including those containing no children, and per household containing at least one dependent child. These are shown for Poplar and Limehouse constituency, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the UK in 2010.
	
		
			 Average number of dependent children per household, and per household containing at least one dependent child, in Poplar and Limehouse constituency, Tower Hamlets and the UK, 2010 
			 Area Average number of dependent children per household (all households) Average number of dependent children per household containing at least one dependent child 
			 Poplar and Limehouse 0.61 2.21 
			 Tower Hamlets 0.55 2.11 
			 UK 0.51 1.76 
		
	
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the Annual Population Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Pay: Scotland

Ian Davidson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of people who would have earned a wage lower than the level of the national minimum wage if there was no national minimum wage in (a) Glasgow South West constituency, (b) Glasgow, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK in each year since 1999.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what estimate he has made of the number of people who would have earned a wage lower than the level of the national minimum wage if there was no national minimum wage in (a) Glasgow South West constituency, (b) Glasgow, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK in each year since 1999. (90373)
	ONS does not make estimates of the numbers of people who would have earned less than the national minimum wage rates set each year if no legislation existed to set those rates in the first place.
	A guide to measuring low pay and associated articles can be found on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/ashe/low-pay/methodology-for-low-pay-estimates/index.html

Population Studies: Migration

Mark Field: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he plans to include migrants who come to the UK for less than 12 months in official population estimates.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to respond to your Parliamentary question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to include migrants who come to the UK for less than 12 months in official population estimates (89862).
	The Mid-Year Population Estimates as they are currently published are consistent with the standard UN definition for population estimates which is based upon the concept of usual residence and includes people who reside in the location for at least 12 months. This definition is also the recommended definition used by Eurostat to provide comparable population data at EU level.
	Visitors and short-term migrants (who enter or leave the UK for less than 12 months) are not included in the official population estimates and there are no plans to do so.
	ONS currently publishes England and Wales estimates of short-term migrant inflows and the next bulletin is due to be published on 23 February. Additionally ONS plans to publish recently developed experimental short-term migration inflow estimates for each local authority on 23 February. These estimates will help local authorities understand how many short term migrants entered each England and Wales local authority for work or study purposes and stayed for periods of between 3-12 months in the mid-years 2008-2010. It should be noted however that these estimates are inflows of short-term migrants, not stocks.

Third Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much funding his Department allocated to (a) Centrepoint, (b) Crisis, (c) Skill Force and (d) Shelter in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: In the financial year 2010-11 and up to the end of December in 2011-12, the Cabinet Office has not directly funded Centrepoint, Crisis, Skill Force or Shelter.

HEALTH

Baby Care Units: Nurses

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many neonatal nurses there were providing care for those living in south London in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011; and what estimate he has made of the number of such nurses in 2012.

Anne Milton: I refer the hon. Member to the written answers I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth (Brandon Lewis), on 12 December 2011, Official Report, column 542W.

Baby Care Units: Standards

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings he has had to discuss standards of NHS neonatal care.

Anne Milton: I met representatives from Bliss on 28 October 2010 and 3 May 2011 to discuss the standards and good practice principles set out in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's ‘Quality Standard for Specialist Neonatal Care’ and the Department's national health service ‘Toolkit for High Quality Neonatal Services’.

Baby Care Units: Standards

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment his Department has made of the relationship between levels of neonatal nursing staff and child mortality.

Anne Milton: No assessment has been made centrally. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and the Department have published two evidence-based documents, the “Quality Standard for Specialist Neonatal Care” and the “Toolkit for High Quality Neonatal Services”, to assist NHS commissioners and providers in the provision of high quality care for babies and their families, including neonatal workforce standards. These documents have already been placed in the Library and are available at:
	Quality Standard for Specialist Neonatal Care is available at:
	www.nice.org.uk/media/17A/A8/SpecialistNeonatalQualityStandardRevisedOct10.pdf
	Toolkit for High Quality Neonatal Services is available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/@sta/@perf/documents/digitalasset/dh_108435.pdf

Bone Diseases

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence of (a) rickets and (b) osteomalacia was in (i) Poplar and Limehouse constituency, (ii) the London borough of Tower Hamlets and (iii) nationally in the latest period for which figures are available.

Anne Milton: The number of episodes of rickets and osteomalacia for the Poplar and Limehouse constituency is not available. Data from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) on the number of episodes of rickets and osteomalacia in 2010-11 in the London borough of Tower Hamlets is 13 and nationally is 2,125.
	These figures do not equal incidence of disease, but a count of hospital treatments where this has been recorded. The number of episodes does not represent the number of different patients, as a person may be admitted on more than one occasion in any given year.
	The data are grouped as shown because the codes used to classify rickets include both ‘active rickets’ and ‘infantile and juvenile osteomalacia’. The codes used to classify osteomalacia include both ‘adult osteomalacia’ and ‘adult rickets’.
	Reference should be made to the footnotes when interpreting the data provided.(1,2,3,4,5)
	(1) The number of Finished Consultant Episodes with a primary or secondary diagnosis of rickets and osteomalacia have been defined by ICD-10 classification codes E55.0 and M83 for Tower Hamlets primary care trust (PCT) or residence in England 2010-11.
	(2) A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end.
	(3) The number of episodes in which the patient had a (named) primary or secondary diagnosis indicates where this diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. Each episode is only counted once, even if the diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record.
	(4) HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and PCTs in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage .and changes in NHS practice.
	(5) The strategic health authority (SHA) or PCT of residence is that containing the patient's normal home address. This does not necessarily reflect where the patient was treated as they may have travelled to another SHA/PCT for treatment.

Children: Health

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage health and wellbeing boards to measure and monitor children's subjective well-being as a key outcome in their local area.

Anne Milton: Health and wellbeing boards will make decisions locally on key priorities through joint strategic needs assessments (JSNAs) and joint health and wellbeing strategies. They will decide locally how best to monitor delivery of these priorities.
	Statutory guidance on JSNAs and joint health and wellbeing strategies will emphasise the importance of understanding and addressing the needs of children and young people; and health and wellbeing boards will have a statutory duty to involve local people, including young people in developing JSNAs and joint health and wellbeing strategies.
	The director of children's services will be a statutory member of the health and wellbeing board, to ensure the needs of children are taken into account. Local HealthWatch will also use their membership on health and wellbeing. boards to help ensure the voices of the whole community, including young people, are fed in.
	Nationally, we have development work underway to improve the data collected on child health so the national health service and public health outcomes frameworks as they develop can better drive improvements for children's wellbeing.

Circle Health

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department have had with representatives of Circle Health.

Simon Burns: Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations, and of hospitality received by special advisers, are published quarterly in arrears on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/MinistersandDepartmentLeaders/Departmentdirectors/DH_110759

Departmental Manpower

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many speechwriters his Department employs at each pay grade.

Simon Burns: There are three full-time equivalent speechwriters employed by the Department. One grade 6, one grade 7 and one higher executive officer.

Departmental Work Experience

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines his Department issues to its non-departmental public bodies on the employment of unpaid interns.

Simon Burns: The Department does not issue guidance to its non-departmental public bodies on the employment of unpaid interns. Executive non-departmental public bodies are independent bodies, established through legislation. As such they employ non civil servants on their staff and determine their own employment terms and conditions. On the employment of unpaid interns they will be guided by relevant legislation and comply with employment law.

Employment Agencies

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on recruitment agencies in each month since September 2011.

Simon Burns: The following table sets out information from the Department’s central procurement system on core Department of Health spend on recruitment agencies from 1 September to 30 November 2011.
	
		
			 Sum of invoice accounted amount excluding VAT 
			 £ 
			  Invoice accounted period  
			 Supplier name 1 September 2011 1 October 2011 1 November 2011 Total 
			 Badenoch and Clark Ltd 29,636.26 266,234.72 91,868.58 387,739.56 
		
	
	
		
			 Brook Street UK Ltd 16,362.96 27,349.68 13,498.46 57,211.10 
			 Capita Resourcing Ltd 31,858.38 34,513.84 38,825.76 105,197.98 
			 Capita SHG Resourcing 32,932.90 38,308.00 8,380.00 79,620.90 
			 Elan Computing 5,160.78 6,518.88 0.00 11,679.66 
			 Hays Specialist Recruitment Ltd 247,601.54 238,774.49 309,110.43 795,486.46 
			 Kelly Services UK Ltd 16,204.88 8,840.81 8,125.65 33,171.34 
			 Northgate HR Ltd 22,080.50 0.00 0.00 22,080.50 
			 Northgate UK Ltd 111,376.32 141,967.68 0.00 253,344.00 
			 Office Angels Ltd 5,795.61 4,144.36 14,894.93 24,834.90 
			 Parity Resources Ltd 119,506.53 210,940.27 175,085.99 505,532.79 
			 Randstad Interim Executives 91,166.00 56,399.20 71,440.90 219,006.10 
			 Reed Specialist Recruitment Ltd 97,921.21 40,639.41 36,801.15 175,361.77 
			 Sand Resources Ltd 104,611.91 112,308.56 104,923.36 321,843.83 
			 Stopgap Group Ltd 7,954.91 0.00 3,880.44 11,835.35 
			 Tate 5,808.63 7,886.29 15,077.17 28,772.09 
			 Venn Group Ltd 80,964.22 21,150.00 11,306.02 113,420.24 
			 Total 1,026,943.54 1,215,976.19 903,218.84 3,146,138.57 
		
	
	The following table sets out information on Connecting for Health spend on recruitment agencies from 1 September to 30 November 2011.
	
		
			 Sum of invoice accounted amount excluding VAT 
			 £ 
			  Invoice accounted period  
			 Supplier name 1 September 2011 1 October 2011 1 November 2011 Total 
			 Michael Page International 12,010.25 2,447.63 489.53 14,947.41 
			 Hayes Specialist Recruitment 0.00 4,569.00 913.80 5,482.80 
			 Total 12,010.25 7,016.63 1,403.33 20,430.21 
			 Notes: 1. September 2011 amounts contains two actual invoices and VAT adjustments for prior months invoices. 2. November 2011 amount shows VAT adjustments for prior month invoices.

EU Law

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which EU (a) Directives, (b) Regulations and (c) other legislation affecting his Department require transposition into UK law; and what estimate he has made of the cost to (i) the public purse and (ii) the private sector of such measures.

Simon Burns: The Department is responsible for the transposition of the following European Union legislation into UK law:
	Directive 2010/53/EU (Organ transplantation)
	Organ Directive 2010/53/EU on standards of quality and safety of human organs intended for transplantation requires transposition by 27 August 2012. The initial total estimated setup cost for the public sector (NHS both centrally and at transplant centres) is £2.758 million, with an ongoing cost over a 10-year period of around £1.605 million per year. Over the same period, the set-up cost for the private sector has been estimated at £300,000 with an annual ongoing cost of £345,000. The Department has recently carried out an external consultation on a proposed implementation approach for the Organ Directive. Cost estimates will be reviewed in light of responses received.
	Directive 2011/62/EU (Falsified Medicines)
	We plan to implement Directive 2011/62/EU on 2 January 2013. The costs of the implementation of the Falsified Medicines Directive are still to be assessed and assumptions will be included in an impact assessment as part of our consultation process on the directive.
	D irective 2010/84/EU (Pharmacovi g il ance)
	We plan to implement Directive 2010/84/EU amending, as regards pharmacovigilance, Directive 2001/83/EC on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use on 21 July 2012. A preliminary assessment of the costs of the directive has been made in a current public consultation. This assessment identifies annual net cost to UK business at £0.8 million (annual costs £4.5 million, annual benefits £3.7 million) and annual cost to the public sector at £2.6 million.
	Directive 2011/24/EU (Cross Border healthcare)
	We plan to implement Directive 2011/24/EU on Cross Border Healthcare allowing EU citizens to seek planned healthcare treatment in other EU member states on 25 October 2013. Associated costs have not yet been estimated, and will be included in an impact assessment as part of the Department of Health consultation process planned for the summer of 2012.

Family Planning: Finance

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on family planning services in (a) Poplar and Limehouse constituency, (b) the London borough of Tower Hamlets and (c) nationally in the latest period for which figures are available.

Anne Milton: Funding for sexual health services, including family planning services, forms part of the allocations made to primary care trusts (PCTs).
	The Department does not collect information on PCT spending on family planning services.

General Practitioners

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2011, Official Report, column 602W, on clinical commissioning groups, if he will publish his estimates of the running costs of shadow clinical commissioning groups; and by what means his Department took into account variations of running costs across the country in its proposal for a flat rate of £25 a head in running costs.

Simon Burns: The running cost allowance for clinical commissioning groups will be part of the 2012-13 shadow allocations for clinical commissioning groups, which will be issued early in 2012, and the actual allocations to clinical commissioning groups for 2013-14 will be made before the end of 2012.
	We have considered variations of existing running costs across the country and have determined that the clinical commissioning group running cost envelope of £25 per head is the optimal allowance.

Health Services: Accidents

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adverse incidents were recorded in the NHS in each of the last two years.

Simon Burns: Information on adverse incidents in the national health service is recorded and reported on a number of different systems, depending on the nature of the incident. Such information that is available nationally for the last two complete financial years is provided as follows. Incidents may be recorded and reported on more than one system. Further information on adverse incidents recorded in the NHS, that is not collected nationally, may be available from individual NHS organisations.
	The National Patient Safety Agency collects reports of patient safety incidents through the National Reporting and Learning System.
	In 2009-10, 1,053,758 incidents were reported.
	In 2010-11,1,145,290 incidents were reported.
	The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) collects data on adverse drug reactions (ADRs) through the Yellow Card scheme. As the Yellow Card scheme collects data for the United Kingdom is not possible to determine the number of reports originating from the English NHS.
	In 2009-10, the MHRA received a total of 23,966 suspected ADR reports and of these 10,465 (43.7%) were received directly from health professionals.
	In 2010-11 the MHRA received a total of 25,793 suspected ADR reports and of these 11,419 (44.3%) were received directly from health professionals.
	The MHRA also collects data on incidents involving medical devices through the Medical Device Adverse Incident Centre database.
	In 2009-10, 3,139 incidents involving medical devices were reported.
	In 2010-11, 3,162 incidents involving medical devices were reported.
	The Department of Health's Defects and Failures reporting system for non-medical equipment and services receives reports of incidents involving non-medical devices, plants and equipment.
	In 2009-10,16 incidents were reported.
	In 2010-11, 27 incidents were reported.
	The Human Tissue Authority collects data on serious adverse events and reactions in relation to two areas: incidents relating to post mortems; and incidents relating to human applications.
	In 2009-10,124 incidents were reported relating to human applications.
	In 2010-11,126 incidents were reported relating to human applications.
	In 2009-10, 34 incidents were reported relating to post mortems.
	In 2010-11, 55 incidents were reported relating to post mortems.
	NHS Protect collate figures on reported physical assaults against NHS staff in England.
	In 2009-10, 56,718 physical assaults were reported.
	In 2010-11, 57,830 physical assaults were reported.

Health Services: Foreign Nationals

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much is owed to the NHS by foreign governments for emergency care of their citizens in (a) Huddersfield and Calderdale Primary Care Trust and (b) nationally;
	(2)  how much was recovered from foreign governments for emergency treatment of their citizens in (a) Huddersfield and Calderdale Primary Care Trust and (b) the NHS nationally in (i) 2009, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2011.

Anne Milton: Under domestic legislation, access to accident and emergency treatment is free of charge to individuals in the United Kingdom, regardless of nationality. However, under European Union rules, members states must reimburse each other for a healthcare provided to their citizens as either temporary visitors accessing emergency care via the European Health Insurance Card, workers posted by an employer from one country to another, state pensioners, those accessing elective treatment in another country at the cost of their home country and dependents of these categories.
	The following table shows how much, in total, has been paid to the United Kingdom, by European Economic Area (EEA) countries for years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11.
	It is not possible to break the figures down to cover emergency care only, or by geographical area.
	
		
			  Payments received by the United Kingdom (£) 
			 2008-09 33,100,000 
			 2009-10 40,500,000 
			 2010-11 51,700,000 
		
	
	Visitors from non-EEA Countries (other than where a reciprocal agreement exists) are charged for any emergency treatment that is provided outside of the Accident and Emergency Unit of a hospital. In such cases, the patient, rather than their government is financially liable.

Health Services: Foreign Nationals

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many foreign nationals received emergency care in (a) Huddersfield and Calderdale Primary Care Trust and (b) the NHS in (i) 2009, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2011.

Simon Burns: This information is not collected in the format requested at primary care trust (PCT) level. Available data relates only to foreign residents who are temporarily visiting the United Kingdom, not all foreign nationals.
	The most relevant available data for Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust Accident and Emergency (A and E) are as follows:
	
		
			 Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust 
			  2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 (1) 
			 A and E attendances by foreign residents 12 21 8 
			 Total A and E attendances 130,906 134,532 58,955 
			 Foreign residents as percentage total A and E attendances 0.01 0.02 0.01 
		
	
	
		
			 England 
			  2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 (1) 
			 A and E attendances by foreign residents 130,603 75,704 40,145 
			 Total A and E attendances 15,569,736 16,241,015 7,214,114 
			 Foreign residents as percentage total A and E attendances 0.8 0.5 0.6 
			 (1) 2011-12 data to date (April to August). Notes: 1. Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data is four months in arrears. 2. HES definition of foreign residents includes Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

Health Services: Foreign Nationals

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health from which five countries the highest number of foreign nationals sought emergency treatment by the NHS in (a) England and (b) Huddersfield and Calderdale primary care trust in (i) 2009, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2011.

Simon Burns: This information is not centrally collected.
	Nationality is not recorded on Hospital Episode Statistics which is the data source used for accident and emergency attendance analysis. The only relevant data category is 'foreign', but this is not broken down further.

Health Services: Human Trafficking

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is provided to NHS staff on recognising potential victims of human trafficking.

Anne Milton: The Government published their Human Trafficking Strategy “Human Trafficking—The Government's Strategy” in July 2011. It contains commitments, that will help support frontline staff, including healthcare professionals, to improve victim care as well as enhance their ability to respond early, or even before harm has occurred.
	Multi-agency guidance for all frontline practitioners on meeting the needs of trafficked people was issued in October 2009. The “Trafficking Toolkit: Tackling Trafficking” includes a specific section frontline health practitioners on how to identify and respond to the needs of trafficking victims more effectively, including those that might not present immediately.

Health Services: Older People

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many admissions to hospital were recorded from a (a) nursing home and (b) residential care home for people aged over 74 in each primary care trust in the last year for which figures are available.

Paul Burstow: The NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care collects data on finished admission episodes as part of Hospital Episode Statistics (HES). HES data on the number of finished admission episodes for those aged over 74, by source of admission and primary care trust of residence, for the year 2010-11, has been placed in the Library.

Hearing Impairment: Somerset

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on deaf and hard of hearing children and young people in Somerset.

Anne Milton: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care holds the following information on behalf of the Department on deaf or hard of hearing children and young people in Somerset.
	The number of people aged 0 to 17 on the registers of the deaf and hard of hearing as at 31 March 2007 and 2010, as set out in table 1. This data collection began in 1983 and previous collections are also held by the NHS Information Centre. The registers for 2001 and 2004 are available on the Department website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/StatisticalWorkAreas/Statisticalsocialcare/DH_4095911
	The number of people aged 0 to 17 on the register of blind and partially sighted persons with an additional disability of ‘deaf with speech’, ‘deaf without speech’ or ‘hard of hearing’ as at 31 March 2006, 2008 and 2011, as set out in table 2. This data collection began in 1973 and previous collections are also held by the NHS Information Centre. The registers for 2000 and 2003 are available on the Department website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/StatisticalWorkAreas/Statisticalsocialcare/DH_4095911
	Information on hospital episodes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing is also held by the NHS Information Centre as part of the Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) collection. HES may be able to provide information relating to episodes, appointments or attendances where the reason for attendance is related to a hearing problem but does not hold information on deaf or hard of hearing patients that are seen at hospital. This information is being collated and will be placed in the Library.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of people aged 0 to 17 years on the register of deaf or hard of hearing within Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset primary care trust (PCT) areas as at 31 March 2007 and 2010 
			  2007 2010 
			  Register of deaf Register of hard of hearing Register of deaf Register of hard of hearing 
			 Somerset PCT 40 85 — 5 
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT — 0 — 0 
			 North Somerset PCT — 0 0 0 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are provided as in the original publications; numbers less than six are suppressed and represented as a dash on the table. Larger numbers are rounded to the nearest five. 2. Data on the number of people registered as deaf or hard of hearing in England was compiled from the ‘SSDA910 Register of People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing’ return; data were submitted every three years as at 31 March by Councils with Social Services Responsibilities (CSSRs) to the NHS Information Centre. This collection has now ceased following consultation, in September 2011. 3. Under Section 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948, councils are required to compile and maintain classified registers of ‘persons who are blind, deaf or dumb and other persons who are substantially and permanently handicapped by illness, injury, or congenital deformity. 4. Although there are no formal examination procedures for determining whether a person is deaf or hard of hearing for the purposes of section 29, cases should be classified as follows: Deaf: Those who (even with a hearing aid) have little or no useful hearing. Hard of Hearing: Those who (with or without a hearing aid) have some useful hearing and whose normal method of communication is by speech, listening and lip reading. 5. Since registration is voluntary, these figures will not provide a complete picture of the number of people aged 0 to 17 years in Somerset who are deaf or hard of hearing. 6. People who are registered as deaf or hard of hearing that are also blind or partially sighted are recorded on the register of blind and partially sighted persons (SSDA 902 form) and are therefore not included in these figures. Source: Registers of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons—SSDA 910 form 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of people aged 0-17 years registered blind or partially sighted who also have a hearing impairment within Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset primary care trust (PCT) areas as at 31 March 2006, 2008 and 2011 
			   Additional disability 
			    Of which:  
			   Deaf With speech Without speech Hard of Hearing 
			 Blind with hearing impairment      
			 2011 Somerset PCT 0 0 0 0 
			  Bath and North East Somerset PCT 0 0 0 0 
			  North Somerset PCT 0 0 0 0 
			 2008 Somerset PCT 0 0 0 — 
			  Bath and North East Somerset PCT 0 0 0 0 
			  North Somerset PCT 0 0 0 0 
			 2006 Somerset PCT — 0 — — 
			  Bath and North East Somerset PCT 0 0 0 0 
			  North Somerset PCT 0 0 0 0 
			       
			 Partially sighted with hearing impairment      
			 2011 Somerset PCT 0 0 0 0 
			  Bath and North East Somerset PCT 0 0 0 0 
			  North Somerset PCT 0 0 0 0 
			 2008 Somerset PCT — — 0 5 
			  Bath and North East Somerset PCT 0 0 0 0 
			  North Somerset PCT 0 0 0 0 
			 2006 Somerset PCT 0 0 0 — 
			  Bath and North East Somerset PCT 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  North Somerset PCT 0 0 0 0 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are provided as in the original publications; numbers less than six are suppressed and represented as a dash on the table. Larger numbers are rounded to the nearest five. 2. In England these data are compiled from the triennial return SSDA 902 submitted by councils with social services responsibilities to the NHS Information Centre for health and social care. 3. The SSDA 902 collection was brought forward by a year for collection in 2008, due to concerns regarding the fall in the number of people newly registered as blind and partially sighted between March 2003 and March 2006. This meant there was no collection in 2009. 4. Registration of blindness is voluntary and so cannot be thought of as providing a definitive number of blind and partially sighted people. However, it is a pre-condition for the receipt of certain financial benefits. It is this factor which gives greater credibility to the “Register of the Blind” than to the “Register of the Partially Sighted” and to other disability registration records maintained by councils, where the voluntary principle also applies. Registration is not, however, a pre-requisite for certain social services concessions and this factor, combined with uncertainties about the regularity with which the councils review and update their records, makes it difficult to assign a degree of reliability to either of these registers. 5. The statistics relating to blind persons who have an additional disability is likely to understate the true numbers, especially in respect of those aged under 16. This is partly because there is no advantage to the blind person in being registered as having additional disabilities. There may also be reluctance to register pre-school children as blind until they attain age five, which would affect the figures for this particular age group. 6. Statutory guidance under section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 was issued in 2001 to councils with social services responsibilities on deafblind registration in response to concerns highlighted by the Department of Health's consultation exercise which looked at social care services for deafblind people. Where there was information on additional disabilities for people having multiple disabilities including deaf or hard of hearing, councils were advised to count these under the category of deaf or hard of hearing. This could lead to a bias towards deaf or hard of hearing disabilities. 7. For people to be registered as severely or partially sight impaired they must first undergo an examination by a consultant ophthalmologist. The consultant records his or her findings on the certificate of visual impairment (CVI) formerly the BD8, on which the consultant also certifies whether or not the person meets the statutory definition of blindness or the non-statutory definition of partial sight. 8. The statutory definition of blindness is that a person should be “so blind as to be unable to perform any work for which eyesight is essential”. The statutory definition of partial sight is that a person should be "substantially and permanently disabled by defective vision caused by congenital defect, illness or injury”. 9. The definition for the groupings of additional disabilities is given as follows: People who are deaf without speech: Those who have no useful hearing and whose normal method of communication is by signs, finger spelling or writing. . People who are deaf with speech: Those who (even with a hearing aid) have little or no useful hearing but whose normal method of communication is by speech and lip-reading. Hard of hearing people: Those who (with or without a hearing aid) have some useful hearing and whose normal method of communication is by speech, listening and lip-reading. 10. While the Department of Health commissions the collecting of information from the Registers of Blind and Partially Sighted for both adults and children, overall responsibility for children's social services lies with the Department for Education. 11. Prior to 2006 the additional disabilities categories of ‘People who are deaf with speech’ and ‘People who are deaf without speech’ were collected as one group: ‘People who are deaf’. Source: Register of blind and partially-sighted persons—SSDA 902 form.

Hinchingbrooke Hospital

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how (a) surplus, (b) capital expenditure and (c) depreciation will be calculated at Hinchingbrooke hospital under the terms of the contract with Circle Health;
	(2)  whether the contract with Circle Health to manage Hinchingbrooke hospital includes any separate provision for management, administration or running costs other than tariff or contract income;
	(3)  whether any (a) price adjustments and (b) guaranteed patient volumes have been agreed as part of the contract with Circle Health to run Hinchingbrooke hospital;
	(4)  what incentives are included in the contract with Circle Health to run Hinchingbrooke hospital for collaboration with local commissioners and other local health and social care providers to provide integrated pathways of care;
	(5)  what (a) legal and (b) contractual duties have been placed on Hinchingbrooke hospital for collaboration with the local health service during the terms of the contract with Circle Heath;
	(6)  whether any surpluses over £2 million generated during the running of Hinchingbrooke hospital by Circle Health will be shared; whether any sharing will take place on an annual or cumulative basis; and whether there will be a cap on total profits;
	(7)  whether the NHS Trust for Hinchingbrooke hospital during its operation by Circle Health will be subject to the provisions of the (a) Freedom of Information Act 2000, (b) Equalities Act 2010 and (c) other statutory duties placed upon public bodies;
	(8)  whether the Circle Health management board for Hinchingbrooke hospital will meet in public;
	(9)  what contingency plans his Department has made in respect of the future financial viability of Circle Health to operate Hinchingbrooke hospital;
	(10)  whether his Department has requested a capital deposit from Circle Health in respect of the operation of Hinchingbrooke hospital;
	(11)  whether Monitor has requested a capital deposit from Circle Health in respect of its operation of Hinchingbrooke hospital;
	(12)  what projections his Department has prepared in respect of future throughput of patients at Hinchingbrooke hospital;
	(13)  whether there is a break clause in the contract with Circle Health to operate Hinchingbrooke hospital; and what the cost to (a) the NHS and (b) Circle Health would be of ending the contract mid-term;
	(14)  what contingency plan he has put in place to deal with a (a) financial and (b) clinical failure during the operation of Hinchingbrooke hospital by Circle Health;
	(15)  what incentives are included in arrangements with Circle Health to operate Hinchingbrooke hospital to minimise any loses over £5 million during the term of the contract.

Simon Burns: The contract to manage Hinchingbrooke hospital is between Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust, Circle Hinchingbrooke Limited, Circle Holdings plc and East of England Strategic Health Authority (now part of NHS Midlands and East). Based on advice from the NHS Midlands and East, we can confirm the following:
	Surplus, capital expenditure and depreciation will be calculated at Hinchingbrooke hospital as they are currently, that is, through normal accounting practice. The trust will continue to operate as a national health service body.
	The franchise agreement with Circle Health to manage Hinchingbrooke hospital allows Circle Health to receive a share of the operating surplus generated by the trust. A surplus would also be used to repay historic debt. The operating costs of the trust are not part of the franchise agreement.
	Price adjustments and guaranteed patient volumes are not part of the contract with Circle Health to run Hinchingbrooke hospital. The trust will be paid at tariff, as for all NHS district general hospitals. The patient volumes relate to existing contractual arrangements between NHS Cambridgeshire and the trust.
	It is for local commissioners to work with local health and social care providers to design integrated services, and the franchise with Circle Health will support services to be delivered from Hinchingbrooke hospital in this way.
	The trust continues to operate under their existing legal and contractual duties, which will include collaborations with the local health services. Circle Health, as the franchisee, will be part of this collaboration.
	Surpluses over £2 million will be shared between Circle Health and the trust. Sharing will take place on an annual basis, subject to audited accounts. There is no cap on total profit.
	The trust remains responsible for governance of the hospital, and is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Equalities Act 2010 and other statutory duties placed upon public bodies.
	The Trust board will continue to meet in public. Circle Health's executive team will attend these meetings as required.
	The Department has made no contingency plans in respect of the future financial viability of Circle Health to operate Hinchingbrooke hospital. Circle Health is an Alternative Investment Market listed company and provision is included within the franchise agreement for an annual review of its financial liability.
	Neither the Department nor Monitor requested a capital deposit from Circle Health in respect of the operation of Hinchingbrooke hospital. As part of the contract, Circle Health will provide working capital contributions of up to £5 million in aggregate, if required.
	The Department has not prepared projections in respect of future throughput of patients at Hinchingbrooke hospital. As part of the normal planning process, NHS Cambridgeshire is discussing its commissioned activity as part of ongoing contract negotiations with the trust. There is no demand guarantee included in these negotiations.
	There is no break clause in the contract with Circle Health to operate Hinchingbrooke hospital. The trust may terminate the contract without cause giving 12 months written notice, and the trust shall pay up to £10 million in compensation. The trust may terminate the contract without compensation if there is, among other things, a material breach of the contract that is incapable of remedy. Circle can terminate the contract without payment if, among other things, the trust commits a material breach of the contract.
	Circle cannot though terminate without trust fault or a breach of the contract. Were it to cease to perform the contract Circle would be in breach and the NHS would seek damages. Such damages have not been predetermined and would have regard to the harm done to NHS interests.
	The Department has not made a contingency plan to deal with a financial and clinical failure during the operation of Hinchingbrooke hospital by Circle Health. Circle Health has agreed to make working capital contributions of up to £5 million in aggregate, should the hospital fall into deficit as part of the transformation. The contract allows this figure to be renegotiated as part of the annual budget process. Should the working capital amount be exceeded, the contract allows either party to terminate. Extreme clinical failure is a breach of contract, and therefore the agreement would be terminated.
	No specific incentives are included in arrangements with Circle Health to minimise any losses over £5 million during the term of the contract. It is in Circle Health's interest to minimise losses, as their success depends upon surpluses being generated.

Hinchingbrooke Hospital

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS Trust for Hinchingbrooke Hospital plans to pursue its application for Foundation Trust status; what the timetable is for any conversion to Foundation Trust status; whether there will be any differences in the process followed; and what consultation he has had with Monitor on this issue.

Simon Burns: Hinchingbrooke Hospital NHS Trust is expected to become, or become part of, a national health service foundation trust. There is currently no agreed timetable for this, which will be determined ahead of the end of the franchise contract when it is anticipated the trust will be ready to move forward to foundation trust status.
	All future applicants for foundation trust status will follow the current process to apply to Monitor. There will be no lowering of the standards required to achieve foundation trust status. Through regular meetings with Monitor, (the statutory name of which is the Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts), the Department is assured that Monitor is aware of the trust's current position.

Hinchingbrooke Hospital

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Circle Health will be liable for UK taxation in respect of any profits resulting from its operation of Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

David Gauke: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	UK resident companies are chargeable to corporation tax on their taxable profits arising in the UK. I am unable to comment on the affairs of specific taxpayers as this information is held by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs on a confidential basis.

Hospitals: Infectious Diseases

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans his Department has to review guidance issued to NHS Acute Trusts and Foundation Trusts on screening programmes for hospital acquired infections; and what his policy is on the governance of any such reviews;
	(2)  whether his Department plans to consult on guidelines issued to NHS Acute Trusts and Foundation Trusts on screening programmes for hospital acquired infections.

Simon Burns: National health service trusts and foundation trusts are required to screen all relevant admissions for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The policy recognises that there are some areas of clinical care where it is not appropriate or cost effective to screen. The Department's guidance therefore asked NHS organisations to develop local clinical protocols, based on learning from within their own area, that provide for clinical and cost effective screening practices.
	The Department has commissioned an independent review of the local implementation (clinical and cost-effectiveness, and impact on patient management) of the current guidance. This audit is being undertaken by University college London and the Health Protection Agency. As part of this process, all infection control teams in NHS acute trusts in England were invited to submit data as part in a National One Week prevalence audit between 9 and 15 May 2011.
	The final report on the audit will be submitted to the Department's expert advisory committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (ARHAI) in the spring to consider the findings, along with other available evidence. ARHAI will then advise the Department if the existing departmental guidance needs to be updated.

Hospitals: Management

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has he made of the prospects for future franchises of hospital management services.

Simon Burns: As part of the commitment for all the remaining national health service trusts to achieve foundation trust status, tripartite formal agreements have been established that set out each organisations plan to deliver this requirement. For a number of NHS trusts the agreement confirms that the organisation has determined they are not viable in their current organisational form and sets out the actions they need to take to establish sustainable provision of high quality healthcare services in some other organisational form. Within these agreements no NHS trusts currently have plans to use the franchising of management to support the achievement of foundation trust status.

Industrial Accidents

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were treated in accident and emergency departments for injuries sustained in the workplace in each of the last five years; and how many were treated at Colchester General Hospital for such injuries.

Simon Burns: These data are not centrally collected. The closest available data indicates from where a patient has been referred to accident and emergency (A&E), but not where the injury occurred. These data are only available from 2007-08 to present. The data are as follows:
	
		
			 Table 1: England total A&E attendances and total referrals from work 
			  England—total A&E attendances England—referral from work Referral of work as a percentage of total attendances 
			 2007-08 12,318,051 98,026 0.80 
			 2008-09 13,794,072 99,746 0.72 
			 2009-10 15,569,736 98,899 0.64 
			 2010-11 16,241,015 98,076 0.60 
			 2011-12(1) 7,213,285 37,419 0.52 
		
	
	Data is not available for Colchester General Hospital in isolation, but is available for Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust:
	
		
			 Table 2: Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust total A&E attendances and total referrals from work 
			  Colchester—total A&E attendances Colchester—referral from work Referral of work as a percentage of total attendances 
			 2007-08 89,079 208 0.23 
			 2008-09 93,908 135 0.14 
			 2009-10 71,978 55 0.08 
			 2010-11 72,330 44 0.06 
			 2011-12(1) 31,416 11 0.04 
			 (1 )2011-12 data is to date (April to August). Note: Data is four months in arrears

Medical Treatments

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications were made by clinicians to North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust's (PCT) Exceptions Panel for treatment or drugs which are not normally commissioned or paid for by the PCT in the last year for which figures are available; and how many of those applications were (a) accepted without qualification, (b) accepted in part or with qualification and (c) rejected.

Simon Burns: The information requested is not centrally held. The Department does not collect information on individual funding requests made to primary care trusts (PCTs). The hon. Member may wish to write to North Yorkshire and York PCT, which may hold some relevant information.

NHS

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the relationship is between his Department and NHS Shared Business Services.

Simon Burns: The Department owns 50% of NHS Shared Business Services, with a senior departmental official on the board of directors.

NHS: Negligence

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many clinical negligence proceedings have been brought against the NHS in the last 12 months; and to which types of adverse incident each relate.

Simon Burns: The information requested is in the following table:
	
		
			 Number of clinical negligence claims where proceedings were issued during 2011 
			  Claim notified to NHS litigation authority  
			 Injury Before 2011 During 2011 Total 
			 Addiction/dependency 0 1 1 
			 Additional/unnecessary operation(s) 159 159 318 
			 Advanced stage cancer 16 19 35 
			 Amputation—lower 38 29 67 
			 Amputation—upper 6 3 9 
			 Anal fissure 1 3 4 
			 Anaphylactic shock/allergic shock/allergy 3 2 5 
			 Aneurysm 0 2 2 
			 Arterial damage 2 0 2 
			 Benign tumour 0 2 2 
			 Bile duct damage 6 5 11 
			 Bladder damage 14 16 30 
			 Blindness 20 10 30 
			 Bodily harm/murder 0 1 1 
			 Bowel damage/dysfunction 31 27 58 
			 Brain damage 80 33 113 
			 Bruising/extravasation 2 3 5 
			 Burn(s) 5 5 10 
			 Cancer 14 23 37 
			 Cardiac arrest 4 5 9 
			 Cardiovascular condition 4 3 7 
			 Cerebral palsy 73 8 81 
			 Chronic fatigue syndrome 1 0 1 
			 Compartment syndrome 7 3 10 
			 Cosmetic disfigurement 5 7 12 
			 Cystic growth 0 1 1 
			 Deafness 1 5 6 
			 Decompression illness 0 1 1 
			 Dental damage 5 6 11 
			 Developmental delay 5 0 5 
			 Dislocation 5 5 10 
			 Down’s syndrome 1 0 1 
			 Epilepsy 2 5 7 
			 Erb's palsy 20 0 20 
			 Failed sterilization 1 0 1 
			 Fatality 121 155 276 
			 Fistula 4 6 10 
			 Foot drop 8 5 13 
			 Fracture 43 40 83 
			 HIV 1 1 2 
			 Hernia 1 4 5 
			 Hospital acquired infection 3 17 20 
			 Impotence 2 2 4 
			 Incontinence 7 4 11 
			 Infectious diseases 4 2 6 
			 Infertility 2 6 8 
			 Joint damage 20 30 50 
			 Limb deformity 3 1 4 
			 Liver damage 1 1 2 
			 Liver transplant 0 1 1 
			 Loss of baby 3 4 7 
			 Loss of kidney 2 1 3 
			 Loss of sexual function 1 0 1 
			 Loss of/damage to breast 0 1 1 
		
	
	
		
			 Lung disease 1 1 2 
			 Malignant tumour 2 3 5 
			 Malnutrition 0 1 1 
			 Meningitis 3 2 5 
			 Multiple disabilities 5 2 7 
			 Multiple injuries 3 1 4 
			 Nerve damage 54 61 115 
			 Not specified 1 5 6 
			 Osteoporosis 2 0 2 
			 Other 10 12 22 
			 Other infection 10 7 17 
			 Other visual problems 21 24 45 
			 Paraplegia 12 1 13 
			 Partial hearing loss 3 3 6 
			 Partial paralysis 3 2 5 
			 Perforation 8 7 15 
			 Peritonitis 2 10 12 
			 Poor outcome—fractures etc. 73 44 117 
			 Pressure sores 19 15 34 
			 Psychiatric/psychological damage 42 58 100 
			 Radiation exposure 0 1 1 
			 Reduced life expectancy 1 0 1 
			 Removal of fallopian tube 0 3 3 
			 Removal of testicle 5 1 6 
			 Renal damage/failure 6 3 9 
			 Respiratory disorder/failure 3 3 6 
			 Rupture 3 3 6 
			 Scarring 11 12 23 
			 Spinal damage 5 9 14 
			 Stillborn 14 7 21 
			 Stroke 8 8 16 
			 Tendon damage 12 6 18 
			 Tetraplegia/quadriplegia 2 1 3 
			 Thrombosis/embolism 7 5 12 
			 Thyroid condition 0 1 1 
			 Tissue damage 4 6 10 
			 Tuberculosis 0 1 1 
			 Unknown 0 10 10 
			 Unnecessary pain 128 174 302 
			 Unwanted pregnancy 4 3 7 
			 Wrongful birth 6 6 12 
			 Total 1,250 1,195 2,445 
			 Source: NHS Litigation Authority.

NHS: Redundancy Pay

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on gagging clauses imposed on NHS employees as part of severance agreements; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Department does not routinely monitor the use of confidentiality clauses in compromise agreements. The Department's guidance, contained within the health circulars HSC 2004/001 for national health service managers and HSC 1999/198 for all employees does not prevent the use of confidentiality clauses per se.
	However, the guidance does state that NHS employers must consider with their legal advisers whether such a clause is necessary in the circumstances of each case and that if such a clause is included within a particular agreement that it complies with their various statutory obligations regarding the treatment of confidential information, including the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. Sir David Nicholson the NHS Chief Executive, wrote on 11 January 2012 to NHS chief executives and HR managers reminding them of their obligations under HSC 1999/198.
	Before an employee considers signing a compromise agreement, which may or may not contain a confidentiality clause, the employer is required to pay for the employee to have independent legal advice on the terms of the agreement.

NHS: Reorganisation

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to place a cap on the liabilities of all private health providers under his proposals for the future of the NHS.

Simon Burns: We have no plans for such a cap. The Government's aim is for equivalent safeguards to be in place for patients irrespective of who provides their NHS services. The national health service standard contract would require all providers of NHS services to provide equivalent indemnities in relation to clinical negligence and other potential losses.
	The Department will therefore be asking the NHS Litigation Authority for advice on options for modifying the existing Clinical Negligence Scheme for trusts to enable all providers of NHS services to be members.

NHS: Standards

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on how quickly a bed bound hospital patient should receive assistance to clear up a burst stoma bag that could infect a wound from a recent operation.

Anne Milton: All care staff should ensure that the comfort, dignity and safety of their patients is maintained at all times.

Nurses

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many patients a nurse on an adult acute (a) medical and (b) surgical hospital ward should be responsible for checking each hour;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of which (a) administration procedures, (b) targets and (c) form filling should be discontinued from the duties of an acute hospital nurse;
	(3)  what his policy is on the nurse to patient ratio on acute adult hospital wards.

Anne Milton: Encouraging nurses to carry out hourly ward rounds is about showing staff what is already working in some places and what the rest can do to achieve the level of the best. The newly established independent Nursing and Care Quality Forum will be tasked with ensuring the best nursing practice, including hourly nursing rounds, is spread throughout the national health service and social care.
	Rolling out the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement's Productive Series 'Releasing Time to Care' initiative will help free nurses from non-essential paperwork and excessive bureaucracy, that add little or no value to patient care, enabling them to spend more time with their patients. This has already helped staff in more than half of acute trusts to spend extra time with patients. A "red-tape challenge" will be introduced to identify barriers to preventing nurses from doing their job properly and remove them.

Plastic Surgery

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers he has to compel private clinics to contact women patients concerned about implants manufactured by Poly Implant Prothese to offer them screening and advice free of charge.

Simon Burns: We expect all providers of health care to comply with their ethical and legal obligations towards the patients in their charge, including offering advice in the event of actual or potential adverse reactions to treatment. In addition, all doctors working for such clinics have specific ethical duties under the General Medical Council's ethical code “Good medical practice”.

Plastic Surgery

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of women who have had breast implants manufactured by Poly Implant Prothese implanted in (a) NHS or (b) private hospitals.

Simon Burns: Based on the information so far available to the Department, our best estimate is that 40,000 women in the United Kingdom received Poly Implant Prothese silicone breast implants, of whom no more than 3,000 were treated in the national health service. We are seeking more robust information from NHS hospitals and private clinics and will update these estimates if necessary.

Suicide

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the merits of (a) applied suicide intervention skills training and (b) trauma risk management; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The Department has made no such assessment; the content and standard of health care training is the responsibility of the independent regulatory bodies for the health care professions.
	Through their role as the custodians of quality standards in education and practice, the profession regulators are committed to ensuring high quality patient care delivered by high quality health professionals and that health care professionals are equipped with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to deal with the problems and conditions they will encounter in practice.
	The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), has not made any formal assessment of Trauma Risk Management (TRiM). The TRiM concept is that of a peer-developed support programme for personnel who have experienced a traumatic event. It does not in itself constitute a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder or any other mental health problem. Instead, it is used to identify the signs and symptoms of stress at an early stage. The ultimate aim is to detect that small percentage of personnel who require additional help and advise them of where they can get the help they need.
	TRiM is widely used by the Ministry of Defence to help identify stress-related issues which personnel may have encountered while on operations. It is also now widely implemented across other public and private sector employers whose personnel may encounter traumatic situations at work.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices: Ashfield

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many companies in Ashfield constituency will receive additional incentive payments to take on 18 to 24 year olds in apprenticeships.

John Hayes: holding answer 16 January 2012
	The Apprenticeship programme is demand led and take-up of apprenticeships by area depends on employer demand. We are therefore unable to provide estimates of the geographical distribution of those companies which will benefit from the incentive payments which the Government announced in November.
	Nationally we plan to make 40,000 incentive payments available for small companies who are not currently engaged in the Apprenticeships programme who take on their first apprentices aged 16-24. The National Apprenticeship Service is currently working up a detailed delivery plan and companies will be able to benefit by April this year.

Beer: Competition

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what timetable he has set for the introduction of measures to improve competition in the pub and hospitality industry.

Edward Davey: The Government have not introduced any measures to improve competition in the pub and hospitality industry. The Office of Fair Trading's (OFT) final decision on CAMRA's super-complaint, published in October 2010, found no evidence of competition problems that are having a significant adverse impact on consumers in the pub industry.
	The timetable for the introduction of the Government's reforms to improve transparency, fairness and dispute resolution for licensees is set out in the Government's response to the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee's report on Pub Companies.
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm82/8222/8222.pdf

Beer: Competition

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a) self-regulation on beer ties and (b) competition in the pub and hospitality industry.

Edward Davey: The Office of Fair Trading's (OFT) final decision on CAMRA's super-complaint, published in October 2010, found no evidence of competition problems that are having a significant adverse impact on consumers in the pub industry.
	The Government consider that the previous system of self-regulation in the pub industry was inadequate. That is why they have introduced a tough new self-regulatory system, including strengthening the Industry Framework Code, making it legally binding and establishing an independent conciliation and arbitration service to resolve disputes between pubcos and licensees.

Beer: Competition

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects of beer ties on competition in the hospitality industry.

Edward Davey: The Office of Fair Trading's (OFT) final decision on CAMRA's super-complaint, published in October 2010, found no evidence of competition problems that are having a significant adverse impact on consumers in the pub industry.

Biofuels: Research

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to support research and development in the biogas sector.

James Paice: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
	The Government support a range of research and development relevant to biogas, and publish this through the Biogas portal website:
	http://www.biogas-info.co.uk/index.php/find-ad-reports.html
	In April 2011, DEFRA published an assessment of research on anaerobic digestion (AD) and the evidence gaps that remain:
	http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/documents/wr1311-ad-gapanalysis.pdf
	In addition, DEFRA's AD strategy and action plan sets out how the Government and industry are working together to address these gaps and other barriers to increasing production of biogas from waste. In particular, DEFRA has launched an Innovation Fund to optimise anaerobic digestion plants and reduce the costs and complexity of small scale AD plants.

Breathalysers

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage Germany to adopt specifications agreed by the Organisation of Legal Metrology on breath alcohol analysis equipment, including a breath temperature correction feature.

David Willetts: I have not taken any steps to encourage Germany to adopt specifications agreed by the International Organisation of Legal Metrology in relation to breath alcohol analysis equipment. Although the Department, through the National Measurement Office, is responsible for dealings with the International Organisation of Legal Metrology, Government policy on breath alcohol analysers is the responsibility of the Home Office and they have not asked either for advice or for any representations to be made on this matter.

Business: Government Assistance

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the total support for industry by his Department was in each parliamentary constituency in 2011.

Mark Prisk: The Department does not hold these data in the format requested.
	However, each year the HM Treasury carries out an annual exercise (country and regional analysis) to collate country and regional spending information by Government Departments, devolved Administrations, local authorities and by public corporations using a combination of actual regional spending and statistical methodologies. These data include details of expenditure on enterprise and economic development broken down to each of the nine English regions as well as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and overseas. The most recent country and regional analysis covers the 2010/11 financial year and is available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pespb_natstats_oct2011.htm

Business: Regulation

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to increase awareness of the regulatory process for businesses among (a) businesses and (b) the general public.

Mark Prisk: The Government Statement of Regulation provides an overview to business and the public of the net costs and benefits to business and an update on the Government's regulatory ‘One-in, One-out’ policy in action. The second statement can be found at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/bre/better-regulation-framework/one-in-one-out/statement
	More widely, through the Red Tape Challenge, the Government invite the public and business to give their views, comments and ideas on what regulations should stay, be improved, or be scrapped. The Red Tape Challenge website can be accessed at:
	http://www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
	In addition, the Government have simplified the regulatory guidance that they provide through:
	http://www.businesslink.gov.uk
	and this supports the citizen-facing material which is provided through:
	http://www.direct.gov.uk

Business: Regulation

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the findings of the British Chamber of Commerce's report entitled Red Tape Challenged.

Mark Prisk: I have noted the findings set out in the British Chambers of Commerce report and welcome their support for the changes that the Government have already introduced to strengthen the system for regulatory scrutiny and accountability across Departments. The report highlights a number of areas where Departments can take further action to improve the transparency of their current activities, including the timely and consistent publication of impact assessments, which we will continue to address over the coming months.

Business: Regulation

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to ensure that his Department's proposals for the deregulation of businesses are informed by the views of the business community.

Mark Prisk: The Government Red Tape Challenge website gives businesses, voluntary organisations and members of the public the opportunity to comment on all regulations which affect them. These comments directly inform its decisions as to which regulations will be removed or improved.
	In its plans on Transforming Regulatory Enforcement the Government has also committed to examine the performance of every regulator including using a web-based tool to enable businesses and individuals to provide a challenge function and real time feedback on their experience of regulators.
	In addition, Departments regularly conduct thematic reviews of regulation, such as the recent review of health and safety, which include thorough consultation with business and other interested parties.

Charities: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of (a) paid jobs and (b) volunteering opportunities in charity shops in the West Midlands.

Edward Davey: No information about the number of paid jobs or volunteering opportunities in charity shops is held centrally.

Debt Collection

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many times his Department has used the services of debt recovery companies since May 2010; which companies were used; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The core Department has not used the services of debt recovery companies since May 2010.

Departmental Pay

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much was paid to officials in his Department and its non-departmental public bodies in (a) bonuses, (b) allowances and (c) other payments additional to basic salary in each of the last two years for which figures are available; what categories of payment may be made to officials in addition to basic salary; what the monetary value is of each category of payment; and what the monetary value was of the 20 largest such payments made in each of the last two years.

Edward Davey: BIS was formed through a Machinery of Government change that occurred in June 2009. The Department was created by merging The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).
	Based on information available, the following table also provides details for both the former departments that were merged to create BIS. To provide details of other additional payments and allowances for 2009-10 and the 20 largest payments would involve checking various data sources and would entail disproportionate costs.
	
		
			 £ 
			 Financial year Performance related payments (inc SCS) Allowances 
			 2009-10 2,734,780 — 
			 2010-11 1,540,957 2,941,096 
		
	
	BIS operates the following working pattern allowances:-
	Overtime, travelling time, meal allowance, night duty allowance and night duty officer's allowance, off shore allowance, on call allowance, standby allowance, weekend duty senior press officers allowance, overseas allowances, emergency preparedness volunteers and the following pay arrangements for specialists.
	
		
			 Former BERR 
			 Specialist area Specialism Grade London (£) National (£) 
			 Accountant Qualified EO 6,067 4,106 
			   HEO 6,829 4,448 
			   SEO 8,882 4,626 
			  Part qualified 1st stage EO to SEO 1,255 784 
			  Part qualified 2nd stage EO to SEO 2,508 1,564 
			 Aerospace P&T Grade 7 3,543 — 
			 Economist Entry level FS 4,009 4,009 
			  Experienced staff FS 7,581 7,581 
			  Entry level + MSc FS 6,985 6,985 
			  Experienced + MSc FS 10,555 10,555 
			   Grade 7 3,577 3,577 
			   Grade 6 2,921 2,921 
			 Electrical engineering inspector Senior Grade 7 12,748 — 
			 Electronics P&T EO 7,543 — 
			   HEO 6,863 — 
			   SEO 8,083 — 
			 Electronics engineer (electronics)  HEO 11,503 — 
			   SEO 13,715 — 
			   Grade 7 5,899 — 
			   Grade 6 3,680 — 
			 Electronic engineering P&T SEO 8,083 — 
			  Science SEO 6,345 — 
			 Electronic scientific Science SEO 6,345 — 
			 Engineering professional, technical and construction P&T HEO 6,863 — 
			 Government social research (GSR)  HEO 6,299 4,984 
			   SEO 7,445 6,153 
			   Grade 7 to grade 6 2,452 — 
			 HR business partner  Grade 6 4,122 — 
			 Information  EO 5,041 4,984 
			   HEO 5,041 3,953 
			   SEO 5,041 6,153 
			   Grade 7 to Grade 6 5,041 — 
			 Internal audit PIIA EO to SEO 2,541 — 
			  GIAS EO to SEO 5,030 — 
			  MIIA EO to SEO 6,496 — 
			  GIAS + IT EO to SEO 7,213 — 
			  MIIA + IT EO to SEO 8,899 — 
			  MIIA Grade 7 to Grade 6 2,571 — 
			 Investigation officers  HEO to SEO 2,007 2,007 
		
	
	
		
			 IT Intelligent customer function  EO to Grade 6 6,344 6,344 
			  Procurement level 1 EO to Grade 6 8,062 8,062 
			  Procurement level 2 EO to Grade 6 10,925 10,925 
			 Lawyers  SEO to Grade 6 2,338 2,338 
			 Librarianship  EO to Grade 6 6,344 6,344 
			 Mapping and charting  EO 5,149 4,986 
			   HEO 4,065 3,893 
			 MENTOR advanced user  AA to HEO 1,082 542 
			 Operational research (OR) Without MSc EO-HEO 4,065 — 
			  With MSc EO-HEO 7,041 — 
			   SEO-Grade 6 8,270 — 
			 Procurement Level 1 AA to G6 1,721 1,721 
			  Level 2 AA to G6 4,583 4,583 
			 Professional and technical  AO 7,687 7,866 
			   EO 5,149 4,984 
			   HEO 4,065 3,953 
			   SEO 4,675 6,153 
			 Scientific  EO 5,149 4,984 
			   HEO 4,065 3,953 
			   SEO 4,675 6,153 
			 Statistician Entry level FS 4,009 £4,009 
			 Statistician Experienced staff FS 7,581 £7,581 
			  Entry level + MSc FS 6,985 £6,985 
			  Experienced + MSc FS 10,555 10,555 
			  Entry level EO to SEO 5,727 5,727 
			  Entry level + MSc EO to SEO 8,702 8,702 
			   Grade 7 to grade 6 2,452 2,452 
			 Technical assessor (Senior)  Grade 6 3,807 — 
			 Telecoms P&T SEO 8,083 — 
			  Science SEO 6,345 — 
			  Senior telecoms engineer SEO 13,715 — 
			 Typing/Secretarial  AA 1,748 1,748 
			   AO 1,346 1,301 
			  Former SPS AA to AO 712 712 
		
	
	Former DIUS Specialist Pay Scales
	Staff on former DIUS terms and conditions have specialist pay rates rather than a separate allowance. The following table shows how much their specialist pay rates differ from generalist pay rates on the basis of their specialism and qualification level.
	
		
			 Specialist area Grade London National 
			 Accountancy EO-SEO £1,255 to £8,881 £783 to £4,625 
			 Economist G6-G7 £2,920 to £3,576 £2,920 to £3,576 
			 Information EO-G6 £5,040 £5,040 
			 IT—Intelligent customer function HEO - G7 £6,342 —(1) 
			 Procurement HEO-G6 £1,720 —(1) 
			 Professional and technical EO - SEO £4,065 to £5,148 —(1) 
			 Professional and technical economics EO - SEO £6,863 to £8,082 £5,726 
			 Research operational EO-G6 £4,065 to £8,269 £2,451 to £8,269 
			 Research social EO-G6 £2,451 to £6,299 £2,451 to £6,299 
			 Science EO - SEO £4,065 to £5,148 (2)£6,152 
			 Statistician EO-G6 £2,451 to £5,726 £2,451 to £5,726 
			 (1) All posts are in London. (2) No EO/HEO posts outside London. 
		
	
	Travel and subsistence payments are also available.
	To provide further breakdown would incur disproportionate costs as would obtaining the information for BIS's non-departmental public bodies. Details of BIS partner organisations can be found at:
	www.bis.gov.uk/partners/by/atoz

Employment Tribunals Service

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the written statement of 23 November 2011, Official Report, columns 26-8W, on employment law review, when he expects reform of the employment tribunal system to be completed.

Edward Davey: We are working to reform the employment tribunal system as soon as possible during this Parliament.
	The measures announced on 23 November requiring secondary legislation (witness statements being taken as read, the removal of witness expenses, judges sitting alone in unfair dismissal cases and changes to limits for cost awards and deposit orders) will come into force on 6 April 2012, subject to parliamentary approval. Measures requiring primary legislation, including early conciliation, financial penalties, judges sitting alone in the Employment Appeal Tribunal and the formula for uprating tribunal awards and redundancy payments will be implemented when parliamentary time allows.
	The Fundamental Review of the Employment Tribunal Rules of Procedure is expected to recommend a revised procedural code for employment tribunals that would come into force in 2013, following public consultation and subject to parliamentary approval.

EU External Trade: India

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on the livelihoods of the rural poor in India of the EU-India Free Trade Agreement; and what representations he has received from non-governmental organisations on the agreement.

Edward Davey: The European Union's sustainability impact assessment (SIA):
	http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2009/june/tradoc_143372.pdf
	concluded that the EU-India Free Trade Agreement would lead to an overall reduction in both rural and urban poverty, and that an ambitious agreement would deliver the greatest benefits. A wide range of civil society organisations, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), were consulted in the preparation of the SIA, and BIS officials regularly discuss our approach to trade negotiations with NGOs.

EU Law

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many of the regulations his Department brought into force through (a) primary legislation, (b) secondary legislation and (c) other means originated from proposals by the European Commission in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011.

Edward Davey: The information requested is not held centrally and is currently being researched. I will write to the hon. Member as soon the information is available and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Foreign Trade

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the export figures for countries outside the EU in the balance of trade figures published on 11 January 2012; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: The latest figures produced by the Office for National Statistics show that UK exports of goods to countries outside the EU totalled £12.2 billion in November 2011. This was £0.4 billion down on October 2011 which was a record month since the series began in 1998. The fall in exports was driven by a fall in the export of silver to non-EU countries, including India, down £0.3 billion. Exports of intermediate goods and consumer goods other than cars, were each down £0.2 billion. These falls were offset by higher exports of oil and cars, both up £0.1 billion.
	Since monthly trade data is volatile, the ONS advise that quarterly data should be used for analysis and assessment of trends. Data for the three months ending November 2012 showed that non-EU exports totalled £36.1 billion, a record for any three-month period since the series began in 1998. This was an increase of £1.9 billion (5.7%) on the previous three months, and an increase of £3.8 billion (11.8%) on the three months ending November 2010.

Further Education: Higher Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of students in each age group were studying a higher education qualification in a further education college funded (a) directly by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, (b) via a university and (c) via the Skills Funding Agency in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

David Willetts: The answer to the question is shown in the following tables. These are the official figures provided by each funding body and are not comparable due to differing methodologies.
	Figures from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) are shown on a full person equivalent basis and the age group refers to the age reported at the start of the course while figures from the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) are shown on a learner basis and the age group refers to the age reported at the start of the academic year. As the figures are not comparable, figures on the proportion of students funded by each category are not shown.
	Table 1 shows the numbers of students studying for a higher education qualification in a further education college that are (i) HEFCE funded, (ii) indirectly funded by HEFCE (via a university), (iii) by another funding stream (for prescribed higher education courses) and (iv) by another funding stream (for franchised higher education courses). Detail on prescribed courses of higher education (HE) can be found on the HEFCE website:
	http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/circlets/2008/cl22_08/
	
		
			 Table 1: Learner participation (full person equivalent) in further education colleges for higher education courses funded by HEFCE and other funding streams, 2007/08 to 2009/10 
			 (i) HEFCE funded 
			 Age at start of course 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 
			 Under 21 17,800 18,700 20,800 
			 21 to 24 9,200 9,600 10,600 
			 25+ 21,300 22,400 23,000 
			 Total 48,300 50,700 54,400 
		
	
	
		
			 (ii) HEFCE indirectly funded 
			 Age at start of course 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 
			 Under 21 17,600 18,000 20,700 
			 21 to 24 7,800 8,200 8,900 
			 25+ 28,200 28,600 29,000 
			 Total 53,600 54,800 58,600 
		
	
	
		
			 (iii) Other funding stream (prescribed HE) 
			 Age at start of course 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 
			 Under 21 1,800 1,700 1,900 
			 21 to 24 1,500 1,700 1,800 
			 25+ 4,000 4,200 4,700 
			 Total 7,300 7,600 8,400 
		
	
	
		
			 (iv) Other funding stream (franchised HE) 
			 Age at start of course 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 
			 Under 21 1,500 1,600 1,100 
			 21 to 24 1,000 1,300 1,100 
			 25+ 2,800 4,500 3,700 
			 Total 5,300 7,400 5,900 
			 Notes: 1. Students are counted if they are included in the standard registration population. 2. A student, studying at the same level, mode, subject and institution will be counted only once. 3. De-duplicating between the ILR and HESA record has been carried out. 4. Age groups refer to the age reported at the start of the course. 5. Some records have been removed from the ILR as they were returned incorrectly. Source: Individualised Learner Record (ILR) Data for HEFCE funded and HESA data record for HEFCE indirectly funded. 
		
	
	Information on the number of students studying higher education courses in further education and funded via the Skills Funding Agency is shown in Table 2.
	
		
			 Table 2: Learner participation in further education on level 4 and above courses funded by the Skills Funding Agency or Young People's Learning Agency 
			 Age at start of academic year 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 
			 Under 21 4,000 4,300 4,200 
			 21 to 24 6,400 6,300 5,600 
			 25+ 43,900 48,700 40,800 
			 Unknown (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Total 54,400 59,400 50,700 
			 (1) Indicates a base value of less than 50. Notes: 1. Figures include learners in further education on level 4 or above courses that were funded by the Learning and Skills Council and/or are now funded by the Skills Funding Agency or Young People's Learning Agency. 2. Age groups refer to the age reported as at 31 August of the academic year, i.e. academic age. 3. Figures have been rounded up or down to the nearest hundred, so components may not sum to totals. 4. Figures do not include any learners returned in ILR collections for higher education institutions. Source: Individualised Learner Record (ILR) Data. 
		
	
	Information on the number of learners participating in further education is published in a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 27 October 2011:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current

Higher Education: North East

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UCAS applications had been submitted by residents of (a) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency, (b) the borough of Middlesbrough, (c) the borough of Redcar and Cleveland, (d) the Tees Valley and (e) the north-east in the 2011-12 admissions cycle by 19 December 2011; and how many such applications had been submitted on the same date in the 2010-11 admissions cycle.

David Willetts: The latest information is in the following tables and has been provided by the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS).
	UCAS have stated that year-on-year changes for all courses at this early stage in the cycle are often different from the position later in the cycle, and that it is too early in the cycle to extrapolate applicant volumes forward. The second table includes only those applicants who applied to courses with a deadline of 15 October. The main deadline for the majority of UCAS courses is 15 January.
	
		
			 All applicants to UCAS as at 19 December by parliamentary constituency/region 
			  Application cycle 
			 Area of domicile 2010-11 (1) 2011-12 (2) 
			 Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency 444 403 
			 The borough of Middlesbrough 332 300 
			 The borough of Redcar and Cleveland 392 345 
			 The Tees Valley 3,205 2,772 
			 The north-east 11,284 10,103 
			 (1) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2011, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2012. (2) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2012, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2013. 
		
	
	
		
			 On time applicants to courses with a 15 October deadline (1)  by parliamentary constituency/region 
			  Application cycle 
			 Area of domicile 2010-11 (2) 2011-12 (3) 
			 Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency 35 33 
			 The borough of Middlesbrough 23 18 
			 The borough of Redcar and Cleveland 21 23 
			 The Tees Valley(4) 240 217 
			 The north-east 1,131 1,073 
			 (1) These are courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, and courses at Oxbridge. (2) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2011, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2012. (3) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2012, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2013. (4) Revised figures. These correct the figures provided in PQ 84160 (254 for 2010-11 and 227 for 2011-12). The figures for the Tees Valley include the constituencies of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar, Stockton North, Stockton South, Darlington, and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland.

Land Registry

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to improve access to the records of land ownership held by the Land Registry; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The Land Register is open to public inspection to assist the buying and selling of property and land, as well as to provide publicly available information about property and land. We have had an open register since 1990.
	The information is made available online to both citizens and professionals by means of two separate web-based services. This allows anyone upon payment of a small fee to access Land Registry’s records. These services are very popular with property professionals and the public alike. Our online service for the general public was launched in January 2005. It helped Land Registry to meet Government targets of making all publicly available information accessible electronically and proved very successful, amply demonstrated by the fact that today ‘Find a Property’ receives up to 20,000 downloads a week.
	However, we are aware of the fact that this means of easy access has the potential to facilitate fraud. We take the issue of fraud very seriously and work closely with stakeholders including the Law Society, Solicitors Regulation Authority, Council of Licensed Conveyancers, National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, National Fraud Authority and Financial Services Authority as well as land registries in other countries to do all we can to reduce the opportunities for fraud and identify when it has happened.
	This means that we do insist upon registration requirements in order to use these web-based services, and Land Registry has no plans to reduce or remove these requirements.
	Land Registry is always looking for ways to maximise the publication of the data it holds. As the Government have already announced, Land Registry together with Ordnance Survey, Met Office and Companies House, is now one of the four founder members of the Public Data Group (PDG) of Trading Funds. As part of its commitment to the Government’s growth and transparency agenda, Land Registry will be releasing detailed customer transaction and property price information free of charge via a new dedicated webpage. The housing market forms a key component of economic growth which is why Land Registry will be releasing the residential property sales and transaction information free of charge, helping the market to be better informed about trends in price and volume.
	As part of this, by the end of January 2012, Land Registry will make available for free, downloadable for reuse in an accessible and reuseable format under the Open Government Licence (OGL) the following data, updated monthly:
	i. number and types of applications by customer by month
	ii. number and types of transactions for value by customer by month
	iii. number of applications in England and Wales, by region and local authority district (or equivalent) by month
	iv. number of searches by month (which can be a leading indicator of housing market movements).
	Furthermore, from March 2012, Land Registry will make available ‘Price Paid information’ showing all residential property sales in England and Wales at address level. This will be downloadable for reuse, in a reuseable format under the OGL, and updated monthly.

Land Registry

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the total amount of land in England which is unregistered (a) in hectares and (b) as a proportion of the total land mass; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The total amount of land in England that is unregistered is 2,711,622 hectares. The total percentage of unregistered land in England is 20.4%.

New Businesses

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will consider the use of the New York City Economic Development Corporation's Sunshine Bronx Business Incubator as a model in the UK to encourage entrepreneurialism and business start-ups with high potential for growth.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 16 January 2012
	There are many positive examples of good practice abroad of which the Bronx Business Incubator centre is one. The work of incubators is important and in this context it is worth mentioning the Business Coaching for Growth (BCG) initiative which is due to go live at the end of January 2012.
	The programme, which will be delivered by the private sector, will help up to 10,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) a year to overcome the barriers to high growth. It will provide coaches to work face to face with senior management teams to help them to develop and implement their strategies and develop the skills, expertise and techniques to overcome the barriers they face to growing. BCG will be highly networked and will connect high growth potential businesses to other forms of support such as business incubators, technology and innovation centres, and science parks. BCG will also forge excellent relationships with Business Angels and the venture capital industry to showcase businesses seeking equity investment.

Public Houses

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received from (a) pub landlords and (b) large-companies owning public houses on the tenureship of public houses.

Edward Davey: I have received numerous representations from both pub landlords and large companies owning public houses. This is set out in more detail in information released under the Freedom of Information Act, which may be found here:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/site/foi/information-released

Public Houses: Closures

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many public houses have closed in each local authority area in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on how many public houses have closed in each local authority area in each of the last 10 years.
	Annual statistics on the number of enterprise deaths are available from 2002 onwards in the ONS release on Business Demography at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk
	The latest statistics on the number of enterprise deaths for public houses/bars have been provided in the spreadsheet, which show the number of enterprise deaths in the UK for public house/bars by local authority from 2002 to 2010.
	Copies of the table have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Public Houses: Mutual Societies

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has considered taking steps to promote mutual models of pub ownership and management.

Edward Davey: The Government are not minded to intervene in setting the terms of commercial, contractual relationships within the pub industry.

Retail Trade

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the effects of (a) low consumer confidence, (b) reduction in household income, (c) high inflation rates and (d) changes in consumer behaviour on the viability of small independent traders.

Mark Prisk: The Government are fully aware that in the current economic conditions companies of all sizes and in all sectors are facing a tough time. It is however difficult to assess the causes and effects of the myriad factors that impact on company performance. We keep in close touch with the major retail trade associations, and organisations such as the Federation of Small Businesses, and so are alive to the concerns of small retailers.
	We take the plight of small businesses, including small retailers, seriously which is why we are supporting small businesses by addressing the challenges they face. We are doing this by ensuring we have a predictable tax system that rewards endeavour; ensuring businesses can access finance; enabling better access to both debt and equity finance; and reducing red tape. We are also ensuring that small and medium-sized enterprises have access to the advice and guidance they need, including through business coaching and mentoring.

Student Finance England: Complaints

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many complaints Student Finance England received in academic years (a) 2011-12, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2009-10.

David Willetts: The Student Loans Company (SLC) is responsible for administering the Student Finance England (SFE) service on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable). I am advised by SLC that information to show the number of complaints received by academic years is not readily available. The table shows the number of complaints received by SLC in relation to the SFE service by financial year.
	By way of context, the progressive increase in the level of complaints could in part be attributed to the progressive increase in SLC's work since 2009. SLC took on responsibility for student finance assessments from English local authorities over a three year period, starting with new applicants for the 2009/10 academic year, and ending with all applicants for the 2011/12 academic year. For the 2009/10 academic year SLC received 470,000 applications, for the 2010/11 academic year this figure increased to 800,000, and for the 2011/12 academic year SLC has to date received over 1 million applications.
	
		
			 Number of registered complaints received by SLC in relation to the SFE service 
			 Financial year Number of complaints 
			 2009-10 1,431 
			 2010-11 3,653 
			 2011-12 (to date) 4,122 
			 Total 9,206

Student Finance England: Loans

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what further resources, in addition to the formation of the Resolve Team, have been put in place to deal with delays in the processing of applications by Student Finance England.

David Willetts: The Student Loans Company (SLC) is responsible for administering the Student Finance England service on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable). SLC improved its processing performance for the 2011/12 academic year cycle, fully processing 83% of applications for core tuition fee and maintenance support by the start of term, compared to 73% last year. SLC also improved its average processing time for core applications by more than three weeks from 9.9 weeks for the 2010/11 cycle to 6.8 weeks for the 2011/12 cycle.
	SLC continues to implement measures to improve the service it delivers and reduce the time taken to process applications. This year SLC introduced an electronic link with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs to verify household income automatically, meaning that SLC was able to process the majority of new students’ applications for means-tested support without asking customers to send in financial evidence. SLC is also improving staff training, providing simpler web-based information, advice and guidance, and delivering processing improvements, including to ICT-based systems.

Student Finance England: Training

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what training call centre staff at Student Finance England receive prior to handling calls; and for how long such training lasts.

David Willetts: The Student Loans Company (SLC) is responsible for administering the Student Finance England service on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable). Student Finance England operates a flexible resource model to meet the demand on its call centre throughout the year, with a core of permanent staff at three locations in the UK supplemented by a variable number of additional temporary staff provided by two specialist companies.
	Permanent SLC staff receive four weeks' induction training, covering student finance products, system use and customer service skills. They are then supported on a one-to-one basis for a further week before taking calls independently. Staff at the external, specialist companies receive a condensed two week training programme covering student finance products and system use with a shorter and more focused section on customer service skills. They are then supported by on-site staff from SLC and a dedicated help-line should they require assistance answering customer queries.
	All staff are monitored to ensure quality standards are met, have extensive coaching support from their team manager and are allocated 12 days of additional training through the year.

Third Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding his Department allocated to (a) Centrepoint, (b) Crisis, (c) Skill Force and (d) Shelter in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The Department has not directly funded any of the organisations named above in 2010-11 and 2011-12.

EDUCATION

Academies

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence between his Department and Ofsted relating to academies;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence between his Department and Ofsted relating to Ofsted inspections to be undertaken on future dates.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 20 December 2011
	The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Academies

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  whether academy trusts are required to notify his Department of the results of their consultations;
	(2)  what steps his Department has taken to monitor compliance with the duty to consult placed on academy trusts by section 10 of the Academies Act 2010.

Nick Gibb: There is a statutory requirement for a school converting to academy status to carry out a consultation but it is up to the school to decide with whom and how to consult.
	Schools do not need to provide the Department with the results of this consultation though the Department will seek confirmation from schools that the consultation has taken place, the dates on which the consultation took place, and that the Academy Trust is content to proceed with conversion to academy status. Schools should also ensure that consultation documentation is available to the Department on request.

Adoption

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to change the cultural match of children with families requirement during the adoption process.

Tim Loughton: The Government want to see more children adopted from care, where this is in their best interests. We want local authorities to look very critically at their adoption practice, particularly in respect of children who wait longest to be placed with adoptive parents, such as black children.
	I have published revised statutory adoption guidance, which makes clear that the primary consideration for local authorities must be whether the prospective adopters can meet all or most of the child’s needs. It is plainly unacceptable for a child to be denied loving adoptive parents solely on the grounds that the child and prospective adopters do not share the same ethnic or cultural background.
	I have asked Martin Narey, who I have appointed as ministerial adviser on adoption, to provide advice on the reasons behind the delays in placing black children for adoption. I have also approved funding for a one-year pilot project, led by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering, to gain a better understanding of how the adoption register is being used to help match prospective adopters with children and how matching decisions are made at local level.

Child Support Agency

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what (a) meetings and (b) telephone discussions he has had with Ministers in other Government departments on proposals to introduce (i) up-front charges for using the Child Support Agency (CSA) and (ii) administration fees for the recipients of payments under the CSA.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 19 December 2011
	The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has had no meetings or telephone discussions with Ministers in other Government Departments on this issue.
	Other DfE Ministers have been part of cross-Government discussions about the Child Support Agency and child maintenance reforms. This is part of the normal process of policy development and decision-making, particularly for issues where several Departments have a policy interest.

Children

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans his Department has to integrate and monitor subjective well-being as a key outcome within the Positive for Youth strategy.

Tim Loughton: The Positive for Youth strategy includes nine outcome measures for young people that will be reported on annually. The first of these measures is a new national measure of young people's subjective well-being that will be recorded as part of the Measuring National Well-being Programme commissioned by the Prime Minister. This programme is being led by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the findings will be published in July 2012.

Children

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what methods are used by his Department to measure the effects of its decisions on the subjective well-being of children.

Tim Loughton: The Department monitors the impacts of its decisions in various ways, including through evaluations. The Department has a particular interest in the impacts of its decisions on attainment as well as other impacts that contribute to higher attainment, including well-being.
	Subjective well-being questions have been added to the evaluation of the National Citizen Service (NCS) which brings together 16-year-olds from different backgrounds in a summer programme of challenge, service and learning. The NCS is currently half way through a two-year pilot.
	In addition, the Childhood Wellbeing Research Centre (CWRC), funded by the Department, has been scoping ways of developing a measure of well-being for use when evaluating children's services. The initial report can be accessed here:
	http://www.cwrc.ac.uk/news/documents/Developing_CYPOC_Report_Summary_March_2011.pdf

Children in Care: Individual Savings Accounts

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department has allocated to support junior ISAs for looked-after children; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 12 January 2012
	The Government have already announced its intention to provide a payment, into a Junior ISA, of £200 for every child looked after for 12 months or more and not previously eligible for a Child Trust Fund. These payments are expected to cost some £16.7 million over the period April 2012 to March 2015. The Department for Education is currently considering bids to operate the scheme. The appointed supplier will also seek to raise additional funds for these accounts from charitable sources.

Children in Care: Individual Savings Accounts

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he is taking steps to encourage local authorities to make regular contributions to junior ISAs for looked-after children; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 12 January 2012
	The Government have already announced their intention to provide a payment, into a junior ISA, of £200 for every child looked after for 12 months or more and not previously eligible for a child trust fund. The supplier appointed to operate the scheme will also seek to raise additional funds for these accounts from charitable sources. Local authorities will be encouraged to contribute to the accounts. It is recognised, however, that many local authorities already support the savings of looked-after children and may wish to continue with these arrangements alongside the junior ISA provided by the Government.

Children: Research

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what research his Department has commissioned to measure the subjective well-being of children.

Tim Loughton: Following an invitation by the Prime Minister last November, the National Statistician is producing new measures of subjective well-being. Office for National Statistics (ONS) is developing well-being measures for children and young people as part of the overall Measuring National Well-being Programme. The Department is working with the ONS to help them develop these measures.
	The Department has also included subjective well-being questions in the 2012 wave of the Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Survey which covers 11 to 15-year-olds. We expect to obtain results from this survey in August 2012.
	In addition, the Childhood Wellbeing Research Centre (CWRC), funded by the Department, has been scoping ways of developing a measure of well-being for use when evaluating children's services. The initial report can be accessed here:
	http://www.cwrc.ac.uk/news/documents/Developing_CYPOC_Report_Summary_March_2011.pdf

Curriculum: Design

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the study of design and technology in schools; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 16 January 2012
	Design and Technology is currently a foundation subject within the national curriculum and is compulsory at Key Stages 1, 2 and 3. The current review of the national curriculum is considering the future status of the subject.
	Provisional figures show that in academic year 2010/11 there were 226,400 entries at GCSE in the subject.

Departmental Apprentices

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many apprentices were employed by each public body for which his Department is responsible between (a) April 2010 and March 2011 and (b) April and December 2011; and how many apprenticeships he expects each public body to sponsor between (i) January and March 2012 and (ii) April 2012 and March 2013.

Tim Loughton: The Department does not hold information centrally on apprentices for its public bodies.
	The contact informaiton for our ALBs can be found at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/armslengthbodies/a00432/ndpbs-associated-with-the-department

Departmental Apprentices

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding from the public purse has been allocated to sponsor apprenticeships in each of the public bodies for which his Department is responsible between (a) April 2010 and March 2011, (b) April 2011 and March 2012 and (c) April 2012 and March 2013.

Tim Loughton: The Department does not hold information centrally on apprentices for its public bodies.
	The contact informaiton for our ALBs can be found at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/armslengthbodies/a00432/ndpbs-associated-with-the-department

Departmental Apprentices

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding his Department allocated to sponsor apprenticeships in his Department in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and how much such funding he plans to allocate in 2012-13.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education allocated funding to sponsor apprenticeships as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			 (a) 2010-11 290,246 
			 (b) 2011-12 94,000 
		
	
	Allocation of funding for 2012-13 has still to be finalised.

Departmental Apprentices

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many apprentices were employed by his Department between (a) April 2010 and March 2011 and (b) April and December 2011; and how many apprenticeships he plans that his Department will sponsor between (i) January and March 2012 and (ii) April and March 2013.

Tim Loughton: Apprentices in the Department are contracted for a period of up to 18 months. The Department employed 12 apprentices between April 2010 and March 2011 and 11 between April 2011 and December 2011.
	The Department plans to recruit apprentices during 2012 but has yet to agree the numbers.

Departmental Manpower

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many speechwriters his Department employs at each pay grade.

Tim Loughton: The Department employs fewer than five speechwriters all are senior information officers.

Departmental Recruitment

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which of his Department’s staff who have been employed since May 2010 were previously political appointees.

Tim Loughton: Fewer than five staff employed by the Department since May 2010 were previously political appointees.

Departmental Work Experience

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidelines his Department issues to its non-departmental public bodies on the employment of unpaid interns.

Tim Loughton: The Department's NDPBs maintain their own human resources functions and agree internally their own approach to internships. For that reason the Department has not issued official guidelines on these matters.

Education: Children

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the relationship between levels of subjective well-being of children and their educational attainment.

Tim Loughton: There is a well-evidenced relationship between children's well-being and their educational attainment—happier children tend also to do well in school. See, for example, research from the Centre for the Wider Benefits of Learning which can be accessed at:
	http://eprints.ioe.ac.uk/2050/1/Gutman2008Children.pdf
	However evidence on whether these links are causal—that higher subjective well-being in children leads to improved attainment, or whether higher levels of attainment lead to higher subjective well-being—has been less well-researched.
	Research from the Centre for the Economics of Education has investigated this link and found that pupils who experience higher levels of enjoyment of school at age 14 go on to have higher levels of attainment at age 16 compared to pupils with lower levels of enjoyment of school at age 14 who are otherwise similar in their characteristics. This suggests—but does not prove—that higher well-being is causing improvements in attainment.
	The research also found that children who have higher achievement at age 11 go on to enjoy school more at age 16, although this is not a strong relationship.
	On other indicators of well-being, pupils who experience higher levels of bullying at age 14 subsequently have lower levels of-academic achievement at age 16 compared to pupils with lower levels of bullying at age 14 who are otherwise similar.
	The research can be accessed on the Centre for the Economics of Education's website:
	http://cee.lse.ac.uk/ceedps/ceesp04.pdf

E-mail

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what steps have been taken to secure the contents of private e-mail accounts of departmental staff relating to official business;
	(2)  whether (a) Rachel Woolf and (b) any staff of the New Schools Network contacted him or his staff via a private e-mail account (i) during the tender process for the free schools pre-application support grant and (ii) before the tender criteria were discussed for the grant;
	(3)  whether he plans to conduct a review on the use of private e-mail accounts by his staff for official business.

Tim Loughton: The Information Commissioner published guidance on 15 December 2011 concerning information held in private e-mail accounts. The Cabinet Office is considering this and will issue further guidance to Departments.

EU Law

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many of the regulations his Department brought into force through (a) primary legislation, (b) secondary legislation and (c) other means originated from proposals by the European Commission in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011.

Tim Loughton: During 2010 and 2011, the Department for Education did not bring into force any legislation which originated from proposals by the European Commission.

Free School Meals

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of children receiving free school meals for whom such meals are the only hot nutritious meal of the day.

Nick Gibb: The Department has not made any estimate of the number of children receiving free school meals for whom such meals are the only hot nutritious meal of the day. While local authorities and schools are responsible for providing free school meals, there is no requirement that a free school meal should be a hot meal.

Free Schools

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department employs staff to promote and encourage free schools.

Nick Gibb: The Department's Communications Directorate works across a broad range of projects in parallel rather than dedicating full-time individuals or teams on any one policy. A number of communications officials have therefore been engaged in communicating the free schools' programme at different stages.

Free Schools

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reason academies and free schools opened since September 2010 are not required to adhere to mandatory nutritional standards.

Nick Gibb: Academies and free schools are required to provide lunches where there is demand and free school meals where appropriate. Those opening from September 2010 are free to promote healthy eating and good nutrition as they see fit. We have no reason to believe that they will not provide healthy, balanced meals that meet the current nutritional regulatory standards.
	In order to assess any changes in school food provision in schools which have converted to academy status, the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has asked the School Food Trust to undertake a qualitative study of the approach taken by academies to providing healthy school food. We expect the results to be published in the spring this year.

Free Schools: Finance

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many applications his Department has received for the free schools pre-application support grant since its creation; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such application;
	(2)  what reasons applicants for the free schools pre-application support grant were not interviewed;
	(3)  whether the New Schools Network has disclosed any conflict of interest to his Department since June 2010.

Nick Gibb: The Department received two applications for the grant to provide pre-application support to free school proposers. In line with normal practice with such grants, the Department does not intend to place these applications in the Library. In this instance, we decided to conduct a paper-based exercise with clear published criteria for assessment, allowing applicants to demonstrate their relevant skills and knowledge. In line with the terms of the grant, New Schools Network routinely declares its current and potential conflicts of interest to the Department to ensure a transparent and productive working relationship.

Playing Fields

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on allowing schools to take over the playing fields of an adjacent school that has closed.

Tim Loughton: The playing fields of maintained schools are protected by Section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Schools and authorities must obtain the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), approval before they can dispose of publically funded land. Applications to dispose of school playing fields are approved only when it is demonstrated that the application meets published criteria. One of those criteria requires schools and local authorities to consider the needs of maintained schools within a one mile radius that are deficient in their playing field requirement, as prescribed by The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999.

Pupil Exclusions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to (a) evaluate and (b) bring forward legislative proposals on a new approach to permanent exclusions.

Nick Gibb: The new approach to school exclusion, that sees schools deciding where excluded pupils are educated, and retaining responsibility for their progress and attendance, is currently being tested in volunteer schools around the country. These trials are due to finish in July 2014.
	The exclusions trials represent a significant change to current policy and thinking and it is important that the Government takes the time to understand all the implications. The trial will be independently evaluated throughout its three year term, and annual progress reports will be published.
	The findings of the evaluation will inform the development of policy, and when we have a clear picture of the impact of the trial, we will bring forward legislative proposals.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding was granted per pupil to Shropshire Council in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11.

Nick Gibb: Per pupil unit of funding figures for 2009-10 and 2010-11 for Shropshire county council are provided as follows. The figures are for all funded pupils aged 3-19:
	
		
			 Dedicated School Grants plus specific grants 
			  Funding per pupil (£) 
			  2009-10 2010-11 
			 Shropshire 4,450 4,690 
			 Notes: 1. This covers funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant, School Standards Grant, School Standards Grant (Personalisation) and standards fund as well as funding from the Learning and Skills Council; it excludes grants which are not allocated at LA level. 2. These figures are for all funded pupils aged 3-19. 3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10.

School Leaving

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of children who had previously studied in a school (a) with and (b) without a sixth form, remained in education and training after the age of 16 in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 16 January 2012
	The information requested is shown in the following table. In all cases age refers to age at the start of the academic year.
	
		
			 16 year olds in education or training (1)  by whether their school at age 15 had a sixth form (2) 
			  Age 16 in: 
			  2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 
			 Without sixth form(2 )(Number) 178,000 185,000 190,000 190,000 188,000 
			 With sixth form(2) (Number) 320,000 333,000 343,000 351,000 352,000 
			 All(3) (Number) 498,000 518,000 533,000 541,000 540,000 
			       
			 Without sixth form(2) (Percentage) 85 87 89 90 94 
			 With sixth form(2) (Percentage) 88 90 91 93 95 
			 All (Percentage) 87 89 90 92 95 
			       
		
	
	
		
			 Population at 15 (4)      
			 Without sixth form(2) ( )(Number) 210,000 214,000 215,000 210,000 200,000 
			 With sixth form(2) ( )(Number) 365,000 372,000 378,000 379,000 370,000 
			 All(3) ( )(Number) 576,000 586,000 592,000 590,000 570,000 
			 (1) Defined as studying full or part-time or doing an apprenticeship during first year following completion of compulsory education. (2) Whether the school had a sixth form is based on its status at end of 2009/10. (3) Components may not sum to total due to rounding. (4) Coverage is pupils in mainstream state funded schools at age 15. Source: DfE Matched administrative data

Schools: Expenditure

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of average expenditure by schools on training events and seminars relating to examination and course work specifications; and what assessment he has made of (a) recent and (b) long-term trends in the level of such expenditure.

Nick Gibb: The Department does not collect data on expenditure by schools on such training events and seminars. We are therefore unable to make an assessment of trends in such spending.

Schools: Transport

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of children who have received support through discretionary subsidies for home to school transport in the last three years.

Tim Loughton: The Department does not collect any information from local authorities or other sources on the number of children for whom transport is provided, irrespective of whether the child is eligible for statutory free transport or discretionary support.

Schools: Warwick

Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding his Department and its predecessors have provided to (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Warwick and Leamington constituency in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: The Department allocates education funding to local authorities so the requested information for Warwick and Leamington constituency is not available.
	Since 2006-07, the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) is the main source of school funding. As the DSG is distributed through a single guaranteed unit of funding per pupil, there is no apportionment made between the primary and secondary sectors.
	Funding figures for 2006-07 to 2010-11 for Warwickshire county council are provided in the following table. These are for all funded pupils aged three to 19 and are in cash terms.
	
		
			 Cash terms funding—DSG plus grants pupils aged three to 19; Warwickshire 
			  £ million 
			 2006-07 289.554 
			 2007-08 305.438 
			 2008-09 315.402 
			 2009-10 328.814 
			 2010-11 346.134 
			 Notes: 1. This covers funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant, School Standards Grant, School Standards Grant (Personalisation) and Standards Fund; it excludes grants which are not allocated at LA level. 2. Price Base: Cash. 3. These figures are for all funded pupils aged three to 19 as funded through the DSG.

Students: Shropshire

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding will be granted to Shropshire council for each pupil for 2012-13.

Nick Gibb: Shropshire has been allocated £4,611.67 per pupil through the Dedicated Schools Grant for 2012-13. In addition, it will receive: £600 for each pupil known to be eligible for free school meals at any time in the last six years; £600 for each pupil continuously looked after for six months; and £250 for each pupil with a parent in the armed services.
	Indicative funding for sixth form pupils will be announced at the end of January 2012, with finalised allocations announced by the end of March 2012.

Teachers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many new graduates he expects to enter the teaching profession in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 19 December 2011
	The number of teachers that schools employ in future years will, as now, be a matter for them to decide, according to funding, local needs and subject to statutory requirements on class sizes where appropriate. When setting annual initial teacher training (ITT) targets to ensure an adequate pool of teachers for schools to recruit from, the Department takes into account data relating to the number of trainees entering ITT courses and the typical success rates for achieving Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) through these courses.
	Teachers entering the profession in a given year will typically have started their ITT in one of the four preceding academic years. It therefore follows that the number of new graduates who wish to enter the teaching profession will be indicated by the number of trainees commencing ITT courses in the previous one to four years. In 2009/10 39,500 trainees started an ITT course; in 2010/11 this number was 38,300 and in 2011/12 this number was 35,410(1).
	The proportion of final year ITT trainees who went on to achieve QTS in the three academic years to 2009/10 can be found in the following table:
	
		
			 Proportion of final year ITT trainees achieving QTS status by academic year 
			  Final year outcome for ITT trainees  
			 Academic year Achieved QTS (%) Did not achieve QTS (%) Total ITT trainees in final year 
			 2007/08 88 12 37,450 
			 2008/09 88 12 37,590 
			 2009/10 89 11 38,970 
			 Notes: 1. Percentages rounded to the nearest 1% and total rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Includes both undergraduate and postgraduate courses through mainstream and employment-based routes. Source: TDA Performance Profiles 
		
	
	(1) Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and taken from the DfE School Workforce in England Statistical First Release, TDA Census Cohort data and the TDA Census Publication for successive years.

Teachers: Ex-servicemen

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress he is making in enrolling former service personnel into the teaching profession.

Nick Gibb: holding answer16 January 2012
	The Government launched the Military to Mentors programme in September 2011, which will aim to train up to 100 service leavers to work with some of our most vulnerable young people in schools this year. We are also working closely with the Ministry of Defence to develop the wider Troops to Teachers programme with the aim of encouraging high quality service leavers to transfer their talents to schools, where they can become inspirational teachers and role models.
	We will announce further details of the programme shortly.

Teachers: Training

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to improve regulation of teacher training seminars designed to improve knowledge of examination specifications in Key Stage 4 examinations run by (a) examination awarding bodies and (b) non-awarding body private providers.

Nick Gibb: In December 2011, the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), asked the independent qualifications regulator, Ofqual, to investigate and report on the serious allegations levelled against awarding bodies of malpractice in seminars that they had provided to teachers. Ofqual issued an interim report on 20 December, with an update on 6 January. These reports can be found on Ofqual's website at:
	www.ofqual.gov.uk/files/2011-12-20-awarding-organisation-seminars-for-teachers.pdf
	and
	www.ofqual.gov.uk/files/2012-01-06-letter-to-secretary-of-state-statement-january-series.pdf?itemid=145
	We welcome Ofqual's review into the future role of both regulated and unregulated seminars. It is clear to the Government that if such events are to continue, greater control is needed over the information that can be shared. Qualifications must be true tests of ability across a suitably broad and challenging syllabus. Ofqual will report on the outcome of their review by the summer.

University Technical College

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many officials in his Department are working on the proposed creation of a University Technical College in Plymouth.

Nick Gibb: The Department's Free Schools Group, that includes the University Technical Colleges (UTCs) and Studio Schools Division, works across a broad range of projects in parallel rather than dedicating full-time individuals or teams on any one project. A number of officials will therefore be engaged in supporting delivery of the Plymouth UTC at different stages.

Vocational Guidance

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that pupils receive a high quality level of information, guidance and advice on future education and career options.

Nick Gibb: From September, schools will be placed under a duty to secure access to independent and impartial careers guidance for their pupils. The guidance must include information on the full range of 16 to 18 education and training options, including apprenticeships. Statutory guidance will set expectations about the type and quality of support schools should offer under the new duty, including the need to secure face-to-face careers guidance where it is the most suitable support, particularly for the disadvantaged.
	In support of the new duty, schools will be able to access high quality support from providers who have achieved a national quality standard for careers guidance. This quality standard will assist schools in making well-informed decisions about which provider to use.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to answer question 88686, on private email accounts, tabled on 20 December 2011 for answer on 10 January 2012.

Tim Loughton: A response to the hon. Member's question was issued on 12 January 2012, Official Report, column 425W.